The Global Challenge is a round the world yacht race run by Challenge Business, the company started by Sir Chay Blyth in 1989. Held every four years, it is unique in that it takes a fleet of one-design (or matching) steel yachts westabout the world against prevailing winds and currents, round Cape Horn and through the Southern Ocean where winds can reach 70 knots - often referred to as the ‘wrong way’ route - and because the crews are ordinary men and women who have paid to take part. The fee for the next race in 2008 is £28,750. A yacht A yacht was originally defined as a light, fast sailing vessel used to convey important persons. ... Sir Chay Blyth (born 14 May 1940) is a British yachtsman and rower. ... Cape Horn from the South, January 2003 Cape Horn is often said to be the southernmost point of South America. ...

The route of the race covers a distance of some 29,000 nautical miles (54,000km). It has changed to accommodate different ports of call, but in 2004/5 started from Portsmouth (UK) and stopped at Buenos Aires (ARG), Wellington (NZ), Sydney (AUS), Cape Town (SA), Boston (USA) and La Rochelle (FRA) before returning again to Portsmouth. A nautical mile is a unit of distance, or, as physical scientists like to call it, length. ...

The event claims the motto “The World’s Toughest Race” and is the ultimate sailing adventure for amateur sailors.

Background

The seeds of the race were sown in Sir Chay Blyth’s previous sailing exploits. In 1970/71 he became the first person to sail alone round the world westabout in the yacht British Steel. The practicality of training people who had never sailed before was demonstrated during the 1973/74 Whitbread Race, when Blyth had raced Great Britain II with a crew from the Parachute Regiment. Subsequently he ran charters for paying crew.

The design philosophy for the identical yachts used on the Global Challenge races was forged by Sir Chay Blyth’s longtime associate Andrew Roberts. It was his idea to start from the largest top-action production winch available, which would in turn dictate sail area, displacement and size. He also oversaw the build of the two fleets of steel cutters used in the four races to date to designs by David Thomas and Thanos Condylis (Challenge 67) and Rob Humphreys (Challenge 72).

British Steel Challenge 1992/3

The first race started from Southampton in September 1992 with 10 identical 67ft boats sailed by a skipper and 13 crew. There were a number of serious rigging screw failures in the Southern Ocean and British Steel II was dismasted in mid-Southern Ocean, but managed to motorsail safely to Hobart under jury rig. She was re-rigged in time to rejoin the race for the next leg to Cape Town.

The winner of the first race was John Chittenden and crew in Nuclear Electric . Chittenden went on to win the 2001 Yachtsman of the Year Award.

BT Global Challenge 1996/7

An expanded fleet of 14 Challenge 67 yachts set out from Southampton in driving rain and gales. Again rigging problems struck in the Southern Ocean and Concert was dismasted. Skipper Chris Tibbs and crew made a jury rig and motorsailed to Wellington, New Zealand. Concert was re-rigged in time to start leg 3 from Wellington to Sydney and was 2nd on the Sydney to Cape Town leg.

This race featured an extra leg to Boston and a crew of disabled men and women took part on “Time & Tide”, the first to sail round the world.

Mike Golding dominated, winning all six legs in Group 4 . Three skippers had graduated from being crew volunteers four years earlier: Andy Hindley; Mark Lodge; and Simon Walker.

BT Global Challenge 2000/1

On 10 September, a new fleet of 72ft steel cutters made their debut in this race. The winner, Conrad Humphreys and crew on LG Flatron , won four of the six legs.

Quadstone collided heavily in a port and starboard incident with Save the Children in Wellington, NZ, and Quadstone retired from this leg. Skipper Alex Philips later resigned. Both boats had to be extensively repaired in New Zealand.

For the first time the race was scored on points, with equal points for each leg, though combined elapsed times are shown here for comparison.

* These teams did not finish all legs, a requirement for a position in the overall standings, but their positions are shown without displacing any other team

Global Challenge 2004/5

In a remarkably incident-free race, again sailed in the Challenge 72 fleet, Australian skipper Andy Forbes won in BG Spirit .

* Retired from leg 2 from Buenos Aires to Wellington (NZ) after a medical emergency on board.

Specifications of the Challenge 72 one-design

The current 12-strong race fleet of Challenge 72-footers was developed from the Challenge 67s and was specifically designed to be strong, safe and seaworthy in even the worst conditions and to be self-sufficient for long periods at sea, with enough fuel and water to take their crews safely to a distant port. The yachts were also designed to be relatively easy to sail and handled by crews who are not professional.

• Length overall: 72ft (22m)
• Length of waterline: 61ft (19m)
• Air draught: 95ft (29m)
• Draught full load: 10ft (3.05m)
• Displacement (half load): 40 tonnes
• Ballast: 12.5 tonnes
• Sail area (windward): 2,825ft m² (262.5m²)
• Sail area (downwind): 4,020ft m² (373m²)
• Water capacity: 390gal (1,775lt)
• Fuel capacity: 475gal (2,150kt)
• Hull: 50A mild steel
• Deck: Stainless steel