The 20th Anniversary British Steel / Global Challenge reunion

It was the 26th of September 1992 that 10 identical steel yachts carrying the hopes and aspirations of 192 men and women, set out from Southampton on a 27,000 mile odyssey to sail west-about around the world against the prevailing winds and currents. Apart from the training each had gone through during the previous year, few had any previous sailing experience, and many outside the fleet believed it impossible.

It was a case of the ordinary doing the extraordinary, following in the wake cast by Chay Blyth 2 decades before, when he became the first man to sail the ‘wrong way’ around the world solo non-stop aboard his yacht British Steel.

The race, won by John Chittenden and his crew aboard Nuclear Electric, was a huge, life-changing event that spawned four further Global Challenge races at four-yearly intervals, the last being in 2004/5.

Since that first British Steel Challenge was launched at the London Boat Show in January 1989, it is fitting that the 1000+ crews to have competed in these Global Challenge races should be assembling at this year’s Tullett Prebon London Boat Show to join sailing’s Pied Piper, Sir Chay Blyth for a grand reunion on Saturday 19th January.

What will bring back memories – good and bad – of rounding Cape Horn, 50ft head seas and the huge camaraderie - are two of Global Challenge yachts on display at the Show, now devoted to sail training.

You can see the Challenger 3/Sarah operated by the Tall Ships Youth Trust and CatZero managed by the CatZero sail training charity from the 12th - 20th January on Marina Berth M163/4

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry Pickthall on +44 (0)7768 395719 or email barry@pplmedia.com

CHALLENGER 3/SARAH

Catzero

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