british steel challenge yachts

We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us!

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

The challenge : the official story of the British Steel Challenge

Bookreader item preview, share or embed this item, flag this item for.

• Graphic Violence
• Explicit Sexual Content
• Hate Speech
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
• Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

23 Previews

Better World Books

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

No suitable files to display here.

PDF access not available for this item.

IN COLLECTIONS

Uploaded by station62.cebu on November 16, 2020

SIMILAR ITEMS (based on metadata)

Sail with us

We’re a youth development charity that helps young people aged 12-25 to redefine their horizons through transformational adventures at sea.

• A young person’s journey
• Individual stories
• What we stand for

We’re the UK’s oldest and largest youth development sail training charity. Over the past 65 years more than 120,000 trainees have sailed over two million nautical miles with us.

• Our heritage
• Work with us
• Maritime careers
• Policies and reports

Book an adventure of a lifetime sailing onboard one of our iconic Challenger yachts. From a day sail in the Solent to two weeks sailing offshore, there's a voyage for everyone aged from 12-80!

Our voyages

• Youth Crew (12 – 25)
• Youth Crew feedback
• Adult Crew (18 – 80)
• Adult Crew feedback
• Follow our voyages
• Youth Crew bursaries
• Corporate events
• Life onboard

There are many ways in which you can support us. From a one off-donation or monthly donations, to volunteering with us or becoming a member.

• Recent donations
• Donate monthly
• Become a member
• Volunteer with us
• Fundraise for us
• Partner with us
• Leave a gift in your will
• Payroll giving

Stay up to date with what we're up to by reading the latest news or checking out our Voyager blogs!

• Voyager blogs
• Open days and events

Our Challengers are 72ft long and made of steel. Built in 2000 they have raced twice round the world in the Global Challenge races.

Our Challenger yachts

Our four 72ft Challenger yachts were built in 2000.

They’re famous for having raced twice round the world in the Global Challenge races.

Global Challenge

The Global Challenge was a round-the-world yacht race run by Challenge Business, the company started by Sir Chay Blyth in 1989.

It was held every four years and took a fleet of one-design steel yachts, crewed by ordinary men and women, who were led by a professional Skipper and paid to take part.

Part of the race went round Cape Horn and through the Southern Ocean where winds can reach 70 knots. It was unique in that the race took the westabout route round the world against prevailing winds and currents – often referred to as the ‘wrong way’ route.

Today, they provide the perfect environment for sail training — an exciting and extremely safe place for everyone onboard.

Living areas

The yachts are comfortable below, with an airy seating area (aka saloon), well-equipped kitchen (galley) and two toilets (heads) with showers.

The sleeping area is open plan with snug bunks (pipe cots) and your own storage area.​

Further details

The Challengers can take up to a maximum of 18 crew:

• Two Watch Leaders, two Watch Assistants, Youth Mentors
• Up to 12 voyage crew (that’s you)

You’ll always have a Skipper and Mate and at least one Watch Leader onboard. However, you may not have Watch Assistants or a Youth Mentor, depending on the type of voyage.

The Challengers were built in 2000 and raced round the world in the Global Challenge races. They’re perfect for sail training as they are very safe. Each Challenger is certified ‘Category 0’ by the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA). This means they have the safety features , equipment and capability to be sailed anywhere in the world !

All voyage crew undergo thorough safety training and vessel familiarisation before setting sail. Lifejackets with integral harnesses and good quality waterproofs are provided.

Codes of conduct are in place and our sailing staff ensure a positive, supportive and encouraging atmosphere is maintained throughout the voyage.​

For a quick guide to ‘what to take’ view our Challenger kit list.

For a more in depth understanding of life onboard visit this page or download our Challenger crew handbook for everything you need to know.​

More about this vessel

© Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. | Registration number: 567460 | Charity number: 314229

Website by Eldo™

• Tel: +66 (0) 808-290-122
• [email protected]
• 121 King Street, Melbourne

Global Challenge Yachts

The Global Challenge round the world yacht race was the brainchild of Sir Chay Blyth. He set up a company, Challenge Business in 1989 and went in search for high profile sponsors. The first race had 10 entrants in 1992/3 and the title sponsor was British Steel and each of the 10 identical steel-hulled 20 m racing yachts were individually sponsored and had a crew of 13 plus a skipper.

The first challenge winner was Nuclear Electric, skippered by John Chittenden with a journey time of 151d 11h 49m 11s. Mike Golding took a very close second place just 2hrs 10m 20secs behind him with his Group 4 racing yacht. Mike went on to win the second Global Challenge in 1996/7, this time winning with over a 2 day lead on second-placed Simon Walker and his Toshiba racing yacht. For this race and the next, BT (British Telecom) was the title sponsor.

The third race in 2000/1 was won by LG Flatron, skippered by Conrad Humpreys and the fourth and final Global Challenge in 2004/5 was won by BG Spirit, skippered by Andy Forbes. For the third and fourth challenges, a new fleet of 22 m steel cutters was used.

Each yacht was crewed by ordinary men and women who paid to take part. The race took the westabout route around the world, which is very tough as they sailed against prevailing winds and currents. The most dangerous leg was around Cape Horn and through the Southern Ocean where wind speeds can reach up to 70 knots (130 km/h).

The race route covered a distance of a very challenging 29,000 nautical miles (54,000 km). The route varied some over the years but in 2004/5 started from Portsmouth (United Kingdom) then went on to Buenos Aires (Argentina), Wellington (New Zealand), Sydney (Australia), Cape Town (South Africa), Boston (United States of America), and La Rochelle (France) before finally returning to Portsmouth.

The Global Challenge was the most demanding and difficult yacht race in the world. It wasn’t just a test of physical and mental endurance for the amateur sailor crews, but also the ultimate test for the yachts themselves. During the first race in 1992/3 several yachts experienced serious rigging screw failures. British Steel II, skippered by Richard Tudor was de-masted in the Southern Ocean. They had won the first leg of the race, but due to this mechanical failure, they needed to motor sail to Hobart using their Jury Rig.

The second race saw 2 yachts have serious rigging issues too. Concert, skippered by Chris Tibbs was dismasted in the Southern Ocean and Pause to Remember, skippered by Tom O'Connor, snapped their boom halfway between Sydney and Cape Town.

The fourth and final Global challenge saw several medical emergencies occur on 3 of the competing yachts. The most serious of which was on board Imagine It. Done. Dr Roche, a crew member, saved the life of fellow crew member John Masters together with assistance from other yachts from the fleet and Westpac Rescue.

It is not surprising that the race earned the motto “The World’s Toughest Yacht Race” and considering the dangers and dramas that unfolded, the event had a very good safety track record overall despite several serious moments.

The officially appointed charity for the races was Save the Children and The Global Challenge race patron was HRH The Princess Royal.

Scott Taylor and his team of expert superyacht painters fully-faired to full racing specifications the newly built 72ft steel racing yachts constructed at DML Dockyard (Devonport Management Limited), Plymouth, UK in 2000.

Sunseeker Metallic Transformation

Yacht Refit Asia Approved by Simpson Marine for Yacht Painting Projects

A Very Satisfied Repeat Customer

+66 (0) 808-290-122

Social media.

From our years of experience nearly every single question can be answered by our FAQ pages.

Global Challenge

The Global Challenge (not to be confused with Global Challenge Award ) was a round the world yacht race run by Challenge Business, the company started by Sir Chay Blyth in 1989. It was held every four years, and took a fleet of one-design steel yachts, crewed by ordinary men and women who have paid to take part, round Cape Horn and through the Southern Ocean where winds can reach 70   kn (130   km/h) . The fee for the last race proposed (in 2008) was £28,750. It was unique in that the race took the westabout route around the world against prevailing winds and currents – often referred to as the ‘wrong way’ route.

British Steel Challenge 1992/3

• BT Global Challenge 1996/7

BT Global Challenge 2000/1

Global challenge 2004/5, specifications of the challenge 72 one-design, buyers of the yachts after the demise of challenge business, challenge 72 fleet, challenge 67 fleet, external links.

The route of the race covered a distance of some 29,000   nmi (54,000   km) . It 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.

The event claimed the motto “The World’s Toughest Yacht Race” and was the ultimate sailing challenge for amateur sailors. The official charity for the races was Save the Children and the race patron was The Princess Royal .

After failing to secure a title sponsor , the company went into administration on 9 October 2006 placing the future of the race in doubt. [1] The fleet was then put up for sale. [2]

The seeds of the race were sown in 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 Around the World 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 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).

The first race started from Southampton in September 1992 with 10 identical 67   ft (20   m) 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 , after the initial success of winning the first leg of the race, 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.

On 10 September, a new fleet of 72   ft (22   m) steel cutters made their debut in this race. The winner, Conrad Humphreys and crew on LG Flatron , won four of the seven legs.

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

Kate Middleton , who married Prince William to become the Duchess of Cambridge, worked as corporate crew during the buildup of the 2000/1 race. [5]

The same fleet of 72   ft (22   m) yachts sailed again in the 2004 race, and the winner was the Australian skipper Andy Forbes and his crew on BG SPIRIT , who won three of the seven legs. Once again, although the overall safety record of the race was very good, medical emergencies did unfold, most notably onboard yachts 'Imagine It. Done.', 'Team Stelmar' (with TWO separate medical evacuations), and 'Save The Children'. In the case of 'Imagine It. Done.', only an extraordinary combined effort of several yachts within the fleet, the doctor onboard (Dr Roche), and the efforts of the Westpac Rescue team saved the life of John Masters. [6] 'Team Stelmar' suffered both their medical evacuations in the Southern Oceans on the BA – Wellington leg, costing them a 2,500-nautical-mile (4,600   km) detour and 17 more days at sea, making the leg 9,700 nautical miles (18,000   km) instead of 6,100   nmi (11,300   km) and 52 days at sea. They carried on with 3 crew down crossing the Southern Ocean alone, set the 24-hour record for that leg and finished 11th due to the retirement of 'Imagine It. Done.' Team Stelmar later went on to set the overall 24-hour race record during the penultimate leg of the race between Boston and La Rochelle.

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

** Stopped racing during leg 2 from Buenos Aires to Wellington (NZ) to render aid after a medical emergency on board to Imagine It. Done.

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. The yachts have a snakepit, an unusual feature that allows anyone working the halyards to 'hunker down' and shelter in strong wind and rain, and, more importantly, from waves washing over the deck. Designed by Rob Humphreys, the identical 72-foot (22   m) steel ocean racing yachts were built by Devonport Yachts in the UK by a new method using a unique flat-pack yacht assembly kit of precision cut laser steel panels.

Related Research Articles

Yacht racing is a sailing sport involving sailing yachts and larger sailboats, as distinguished from dinghy racing, which involves open boats. It is composed of multiple yachts, in direct competition, racing around a course marked by buoys or other fixed navigational devices or racing longer distances across open water from point-to-point. It can involve a series of races with buoy racing or multiple legs when point-to-point racing.

A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.

The Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three or four years since 1973. Originally named the Whitbread Round the World Race after its initiating sponsor, British brewing company Whitbread, in 2001 it became the Volvo Ocean Race after Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo took up the sponsorship, and in 2019 it was renamed The Ocean Race .

Dinghy racing is a competitive sport using dinghies, which are small boats which may be rowboats, have an outboard motor, or be sailing dinghies. Dinghy racing has affected aspects of the modern sailing dinghy, including hull design, sail materials and sailplan, and techniques such as planing and trapezing.

The Vendée Globe is a single-handed (solo) non-stop round the world yacht race. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years. It is named after the Département of Vendée, in France, where the race starts and ends. The Vendée Globe is considered an extreme quest of individual endurance and the ultimate test in ocean racing.

Sir Charles Blyth , known as Chay Blyth , is a Scottish yachtsman and rower. He was the first person to sail single-handed non-stop westwards around the world (1971), on a 59-foot boat called British Steel .

The sport and practice of single-handed sailing or solo sailing is sailing with only one crewmember. The term usually refers to ocean and long-distance sailing and is used in competitive sailing and among Cruisers.

The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race was a non-stop, single-handed, round-the-world yacht race, held in 1968–1969, and was the first round-the-world yacht race. The race was controversial due to the failure of most competitors to finish the race and because of the apparent suicide of one entrant; however, it ultimately led to the founding of the BOC Challenge and Vendée Globe round-the-world races, both of which continue to be successful and popular.

The clipper route was the traditional route derived from the Brouwer Route and sailed by clipper ships between Europe and the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. The route ran from west to east through the Southern Ocean, to make use of the strong westerly winds of the Roaring Forties. Many ships and sailors were lost in the heavy conditions along the route, particularly at Cape Horn, which the clippers had to round on their return to Europe.

Mike Golding is an English yachtsman, born in Great Yarmouth and educated at Reading Blue Coat School. He is one of the few yachtsmen to have raced round the world non stop in both directions. He held the solo record for sailing round the world westabout between 1994 and 2000.

Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America, Cape Horn marks the northern boundary of the Drake Passage and marks where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.

Denise " Dee " Caffari MBE is a British sailor, and in 2006 became the first woman to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the world "the wrong way"; westward against the prevailing winds and currents. In February 2009, Caffari completed the Vendée Globe race and set a new record to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in both directions.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a biennial sailing race that takes paying amateur crews on one or more legs of a circumnavigation of the globe in 11 specially-designed identical yachts owned by Clipper Ventures. Professional skippers and additional qualified persons (AQPs) lead each teams on the 10-month journey. All participants must complete a four-week training course before starting the race. The race was conceived in 1995 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and is run by Clipper Ventures plc. The race has been held every two years since 1996, although in 2004 there was not a race and biennial racing resumed in 2005.

Cornelis "Conny" van Rietschoten was a Dutch yacht skipper who was the only skipper to win the Whitbread Round the World Race twice.

The first around the world sailing record for circumnavigation of the world was Juan Sebastián Elcano and the remaining members of Ferdinand Magellan's crew who completed their journey in 1522. The first solo record was set by Joshua Slocum in the Spray (1898).

The 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race was the 11th edition of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, yacht race which started with an in-port race in Alicante, Spain on 29 October 2011 with six Volvo Open 70 yachts at the start line and ended with an in-port race in Galway, Ireland on 7 July 2012. The 39,270 NM route involved stopovers and in-port races in Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, Itajaí, Miami, Lisbon, Lorient, and finally Galway. The race consisted of nine ocean races and ten in-port races.

The Parmelia Race, Plymouth to Perth, 1979 was a feature event of the Western Australian 150th Anniversary Celebrations, 1979. Competitors were invited to recreate the 1829 voyage of the merchant barque Parmelia bringing the first British settlers to the Swan River Colony. The race was organised by the Royal Perth Yacht Club of Western Australia and sponsored by The Parmelia Hilton International, Perth

The sport of sailing involves a variety of competitive sailing formats that are sanctioned through various sailing federations and yacht clubs. Racing disciplines include matches within a fleet of sailing craft, between a pair thereof or among teams. Additionally, there are specialized competitions that include setting speed records. Racing formats include both closed courses and point-to-point contests; they may be in sheltered waters, coast-wise or on the open ocean. Most competitions are held within defined classes or ratings that either entail one type of sailing craft to ensure a contest primarily of skill or rating the sailing craft to create classifications or handicaps.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to sailing:

• ↑ "Berthon International Yacht Brokers | Part of the Berthon Sales Group" . Berthon International .
• ↑ " " I Can Only Compete Through My Crew." " . Fast Company .
• ↑ "Results" . BT Challenge . Archived from the original on 2002-06-17 . Retrieved 2016-01-05 .
• ↑ Sean, Smith. Kate Unauthorised . Simon & Schuster UK. pp.   76–78. ISBN   9781847378699 .
• ↑ Dr David Roche, General Practitioner, East Sussex. UK
• ↑ "BP to Sponsor Global Challenge Yacht Race" . Sportcal . Retrieved 2023-04-10 .
• ↑ BT Global Challenge The world's toughest yacht race ISBN   0 9541451 0 0
• ↑ "Cat Zero" . catzero.org . Archived from the original on 2016-01-09 . Retrieved 2015-08-24 .
• 1 2 "Sea Dragon" . panexplore.com . Archived from the original on 2012-10-08 . Retrieved 2012-06-11 .
• 1 2 3 4 "Press release by Tall Ships Youth Trust" . Archived from the original on November 1, 2007.
• ↑ "Military yachts sail back from 13-month global adventure" . www.portsmouth.co.uk .
• ↑ "Big Spirit Adventures" . Facebook .
• ↑ "Plymouth yacht fall leaves sailor homeless" . BBC News .
• ↑ "Challenge 72' CHALLENGE BUSINESS 45 comes back to life" . Berthon Yacht Sales website . Berthon. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016 . Retrieved 24 August 2015 .
• ↑ "Devonport Challenge 72, CHALLENGE BUSINESS 45" .
• ↑ "Charting The Repair And Recommission Of Challenge Business 45" . ChallengeBusiness45 . Archived from the original on 4 May 2019.
• ↑ Fabrication, Exeter (2018-10-15). "Today we pulled CB45 back in to the shed to be filled faired and painted. This famous yacht will soon be ready to sail the oceans once againpic.twitter.com/ww11jXHzJ9" . @exeterfab . Retrieved 2019-07-15 .
• ↑ "Challenge Wales" . challengewales.org .
• ↑ "SV Ironbarque – ZQCO4" . ironbarque.net .
• ↑ "Ironbarque – The experience of a lifetime!" . 2017-03-03 . Retrieved 2023-04-04 .
• ↑ "Elinca" . www.seabenefit.eu . Retrieved 2020-08-26 .
• ↑ "Aurora" . oceanexperience.co.uk .
• ↑ "Spirit Of Outward Bound Hong Kong" . www.outwardbound.org.hk . Archived from the original on 2016-03-08.
• ↑ "Albatros, grand monocoque avec équipage - Location voilier course croisière" . challengeocean.com/ . Challenge Ocean . Retrieved 17 August 2022 .
• ↑ "Challenge 67" . Berthon . Retrieved 29 July 2013 .
• ↑ "Specifications Jonathan IV" . Retrieved 14 January 2013 .
• ↑ "About Oceans of Hope" . Archived from the original on 4 February 2015 . Retrieved 4 February 2015 .
• ↑ "CHALLENGE BUSINESS 20 – The Greenest of Them All" . Berthon Yacht Sales website . Berthon . Retrieved 24 August 2015 .
• Tall Ships Youth Trust
• Pangaea Exploration
• Challenge Wales
• Ocean Youth Trust
• Website for yacht British Steel
• Challenge 67 Archived 2010-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
• MariFlex Challenge
• Sailing-Sclerosis.org

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

British Steel Challenge and Global Challenge at the London Boat Show

Related Articles

Sir Chay Blyth

Adventurer, businessman – an inspiration.

Global Challenge

Imagine being numb with cold. Imagine biting 70mph winds that sting your face as you lumber about the deck rollercoasting its way over 50-foot waves. Imagine hanging on for your life as a wall of freezing water crashes on top of you. Imagine doing this for five weeks at a time. This was Global Challenge, the world’s toughest yacht race. Each yacht was crewed by ordinary men and women led by a professional skipper. Every single crew member set out to push themselves to the limit and to have the adventure of their lives.

It was tough because they raced ‘the wrong way’ around the world – against the prevailing winds and currents. En route they stopped in Buenos Aires, Wellington, Sydney, Cape Town, Boston and La Rochelle before returning to Portsmouth ten months later. Conditions ranged from the calms and energy-sapping heat of the doldrums to the icebergs, storms and monumental seas of the southern oceans.

Global Challenge was more than just a yacht race. It brought together the business community, a major charity – Save the Children, the media and tens of thousands of supporters as well as the crews. Over 120 organisations participated in the event through sponsorships and partnerships. Spectators from around the world visited the ports of call and tracked the event on the race website and through coverage in the world’s media.

The British Steel Challenge took place in 1992-3 to critical acclaim from journalists, sponsors and participants and changed the face of yachting forever. The race was followed by two successive BT Global Challenge races in 1996/7 and 2000/2001. Sadly, a downturn in the sponsorship market meant that the 2004/2005 Global Challenge race set off without a title sponsor.

• Testimonials
• International Speaker
• Media Images
• Edited Talks
• Latest Adventure Blog
• Journey To Date
• Cruise 2017 Adventure
• Kayak Adventures 2012
• The Route du Rhum 2010
• Spirit of Mystery 2008-2009
• - Mystery Team
• - Interview with Pete Goss
• - Voyage Route
• North Pole 2006-2009
• Fastnet 2007
• Playing For Success
• Team Philips 2000
• Vendee Globe 1996/7
• British Steel Challenge 1992
• Carlsberg Translantic 1988
• Three Peaks Race 1984
• Messages of Support
• The Building Of The Spirit of Mystery 2008/9
• Spirit of Mystery
• Pete Goss & Paul Larsen RB&I 2006
• Cornish Meadow 1998

British Steel Challenge

• Cornish Meadow
• Pete Goss and Paul Larsen RB&I 2006
• Route Du Rhum
• Tasmania Circumnavigation
• Team Philips
• The Building Of The Spirit of Mystery
• Vendee Globe
• British Steel Challenge -->
• Cornish Meadow -->
• North Pole -->
• Pete Goss and Paul Larsen RB&I 2006 -->
• Route Du Rhum -->
• SeaCart 30 -->
• Spirit of Mystery -->
• Tasmania Circumnavigation -->
• Team Philips -->
• The Building Of The Spirit of Mystery -->
• Vendee Globe -->

Pete’s other sailing exploits include training and leading a previously inexperienced crew of fourteen through what is generally held to be ‘the world’s toughest yacht race’ – the British Steel Challenge (now known as the Global Challenge).

The route goes the ‘wrong way’ around the world, against the prevailing winds and currents. The criteria for the race was to construct ten identical boats all to be crewed by novice sailors and Pete whittled down the entrants to 120, then split them into ten teams of 12.

Pete spent three years as training skipper for the whole fleet of 120 amateurs, working alongside them day and night to ensure they understood every aspect of their particular boat and were fully prepared for the challenges they were about to face.

It was thanks to this incredible passion and attention to detail that Pete proudly went on to lead his own team of 12 into third place aboard their boat Hofbrau.

• Yachting Monthly
• Digital edition

MoD buys four Challenge 67’s

• January 11, 2002

Challenge Business has sold four Challenge 67' class steel yachts to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for use by its Joint Services Adventurous Training Centre

Berthon International, acting as brokers for Challenge Business, has sold four Challenge 67′ class steel yachts to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for use by its Joint Services Adventurous Training Centre (JSASTC) based at Gosport. The yachts will replace four of the Nicholson 55’s operated by the JSASTC.

The Challenge yachts have an illustrious past having participated in two round-the-world races, the British Steel Challenge 1992/93 and the BT Global Challenge 1996/97.

The rigorous selection process undertaken by the MoD and JSASTC identified the advantages of purchasing second-hand yachts of proven design, which are in exceptionally good condition.

Safety is paramount with all of Challenge Business’ yachts and all JSASTC yachts will now have Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) compliance to Category 0 for unlimited voyages. This factor together with availability and value for money were considered essential in the MOD’s choice.

The Challenge Business is delighted to see four of its yachts go to an organisation whose attitudes to safety, seamanship and training so closely mirror its own.

Andrew Roberts Project Director, Challenge Business comments: “The Challenge 67′ class yachts have, during two “wrong way” circumnavigations of the globe, established legendary qualities of seaworthiness and strength which combined with excellent performance and low maintenance costs, make them worthy successors to the incredibly successful but ageing Nicholson 55 fleet currently used by the Joint Services Sail Training Centre.”

Sue Grant, managing director, Berthon International added “This is an exciting start to the new-year and reinforces Berthon Internationals’ position at the forefront of the world-wide brokerage market.”

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Challenge Business in administration

• October 11, 2006

The company that organises the Global Challenge now in the hands of administrators 11/10/06

Nigel Morrison and Richard Hawes, partners in Grant Thornton UK LLP, have been appointed joint Administrators of The Challenge Business International Limited (the Company or Challenge), a company established by Sir Chay Blyth to organise the Global Challenge round-the-world yacht race.

The company also runs and participates in a number of other yachting events such as the Round Britain and Ireland Challenge, Transat Challenge, entering yachts in the Rolex Fastnet Race, and organising corporate yachting events. The first Global Challenge race, The British Steel Challenge took place in 1992 to 1993 and the race has now been run four times.

The Company’s turnover fluctuated seasonally and year-on-year since sales were materially affected by whether a major racing event fell within the financial year. It was founded in 1989 and is based in Southampton with technical support facilities in Plymouth.

Nigel Morrison of Grant Thornton commented: “The business model for the company required that the Global Challenge series attracted heavyweight title holder sponsorship, which proved impossible for the last race in 2004-5. The Company has worked hard to find a sponsor for the next race in 2008-9, but with no success it was forced to announce the postponement of the next Global Challenge race. Cashflow became difficult to manage as the Company entered into the Autumn with very few events scheduled until next Spring.”

Nigel Morrison added: “Our intention is to establish shortly whether there is a possibility for a going concern sale of the business or whether it will be necessary to realise the assets of the company separately. Challenge’s assets comprise largely of the 18 bespoke yachts used in the Challenge series of events and include Aviva, the yacht that was recently sailed by Dee Caffari in her successful campaign to become the first woman to sail non-stop the wrong way around the World. Currently the Company owns five 67ft yachts and 13 72ft yachts, all of which have featured in the Challenge Series.”

Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Chay Blyth round-the-world yacht race reunion

• Laura Hodgetts
• January 16, 2013

More than 200 people have signed up to attend a 20th anniversary reunion

Skippers on parade in 1991 at St Katherine's Dock - in their normal work clothes. Pictured (left to right): Vivien Cherry, Richard Tudor (sailmaker), Will Sutherland, Pete Goss, Ian MacGillivray, Alec Honey (who dropped out before the race), Adrian Donovan, Mike Golding (fireman), John Chittenden and yacht surveyor Paul Jeffes.

Hundreds of people will be gathering at the London Boat Show 2013 this Saturday to celebrate sailing round the world ‘the wrong way’ 20 years ago.

The event is for skippers and crew from Chay Blyth’s 1992-93 British Steel Challenge yacht race, plus the four subsequent Global Challenge races.

It is taking place at the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show on Saturday 19 January, with Sir Chay Blyth attending.

Race veterans are coming from as far away as Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, USA and all across Europe.

It was on Saturday 26 September 1992 that ten 67ft steel yachts set off from Southampton for Rio de Janeiro, on the first 5,300-mile leg of the epic 28,000-mile race. The only other stops for the amateur sailors were Hobart, Tasmania, and Cape Town.

The Daily Mail dubbed the event ‘The Mid-life Crisis Challenge’ and some in the yachting establishment poured scorn on the project, saying it was foolhardy and irresponsible to send greenhorns into the Southern Ocean west-about around Cape Horn.

Chay called the event ‘the toughest yacht race ever – an extraordinary adventure for ordinary people.’

It cost £14,850 – or about 50p a mile – to sign up for the whole race – and there was a long waiting list. There was a two-year training programme with some crews enduring Force 10 winds in the English Channel in winter.

Most of the sailors were trained by Pete Goss, later appointed one of the skippers. Goss and Mike Golding are two of the skippers who will be absent from the reunion. The former is currently kayaking around Hobart and Golding is racing up the Atlantic on the final stretch of the solo, non-stopVendee Globe round the world race.

The Boat Show reunion includes plans for an auction of Global Challenge memorabilia, in aid of Save the Children, plus screening of videos from the Challenge events, and a buffet dinner.

Two ex-Global Challenge yachts,  Challenger 3/Sarah , operated by The Tall Ships Youth Trust, and  Catzero , managed by the sail training charity, CatZero, are also at the show on the marina berth M163/4. 

The organiser is sailing journalist Barry Pickthall who wrote the book ‘No Guts – No Glory’ on the event. Barry says: ‘We have not managed to track down every crew member, so if you are still in contact with your  crew-mates, please tell them, we don’t want anyone to miss out!’

Tickets for the reunion are £20, including the buffet dinner, if you already have a boat show ticket, or £30 including the boat show. The Reunion buffet dinner will take place in the Platinum Suite level 3, (follow signs for the BMF/RYA Lounge) starting at 7pm, when the Show closes, and will continue until 11pm.

To book, visit the show website , click on the Show Tickets – Buy Now! and select 19 January and type in the promotional code BTG.

If you have a show ticket already use the promotional code BTGE. 

The deadline for booking is Friday.

To find out more call Barry Pickthall on +44 (0)7768 395719 or email [email protected]

Or visit the Facebook pag

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Sailing: British Steel II loses mast

Article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing

Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news, thanks for signing up to the sport email.

THE charmed life of the 10 amateur-crewed yachts sailing round the world in the British Steel Challenge was given a severe jolt yesterday when the sponsor's own yacht, British Steel II, was dismasted deep in the southern Pacific Ocean. None of the crew were injured as the rigging screw on the starboard lower shroud failed, causing the 85ft mast to break at deck level.

Most of the rigging had to be cut away and the mast with the mainsail and headsails still attached dumped in the water, as the crew also coped with big seas and strong westerly winds.

The skipper, Richard Tudor, was able to salvage the boom and, as he began to turn north away from the dangers of icebergs, he reported that they required no assistance, although other yachts had offered to go to their aid or to donate food for what will now be a much longer passage at sea. He feels he has enough food, and enough diesel to run the fresh-water maker for the three to four weeks before reaching port.

Tudor is fortunate that his communications have not been wrecked as he was able, via the duty yacht, to contact race control in England within 12 minutes of the incident. He rejected the option of returning to Chile and plans to set up a jury rig, possibly using a spinnaker pole as a mast, and to use the storm trysail and jib to begin the long slog to New Zealand 2,400 miles away.

Chay Blyth, the race organiser, said: 'We are of course extremely disappointed but the boats have been driven extremely hard and fast, taking its toll on both the crew and the boat. I am delighted that nobody has been injured in this incident, and with all communications still operative we are able to stay in touch and ensure they make safe progress to New Zealand.'

Peter Blake, the Whitbread round-the-world winner, yesterday displayed the 85ft twin hulls of the catamaran in which he and Robin Knox-Johnston will team up for an attempt to sail round the world in 80 days, starting on 15 January, and snatch the Jules Verne Trophy recently put up by the French government.

BRITISH STEEL CHALLENGE ROUND-THE- WORLD RACE (Second leg, Rio de Janeiro to Hobart) Leading positions (with miles to Hobart): 1 Commercial Union, 3,002; 2 Nuclear Electric, 3,034; 3 Hofbrau, 3,121; 4 Coopers and Lybrand, 3,208; 5 Heath Insured, 3,211; 6 Group 4, 3,232; 7 Pride of Teesside, 3,385; 8 Interspray, 3,504; 9 Rhone-Poulenc, 3,716. Dismasted: British Steel II.( Information supplied by BT)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

BT Global Challenge Cup & British Steel

BT Globals Challenge 1996-1997

The photograph features Group 4 winner of the BT Global Challenge, a finely detailed 1:32 scale model of the BT Global Challenge winner Group 4.

Pause to Remember

The photograph features ‘Pause to Remember’ who featured in the BT Global Challenge. A finely details 1:32 scale model.

British Steel

British Steel 1.72 scale models of the British Steel Round the World Race.

Nuclear Electric

A finely detailed 1:32 scale waterline model of the’Round the World yacht ‘Nuclear Electric’ built by Devonport Management Ltd to the design of D. Thomas 1991.

Join our mailing list

To stay up date.