The World's Toughest Yacht Race

More people have journeyed into space or climbed Mount Everest, than circumnavigated the Earth the wrong way under sail

In October 2004 a fleet of 12 identical yachts will leave the British port of Portsmouth for a ten month long, round-the-world race, totalling more than 32,000 nautical miles.

They will race the 'wrong way' around the world - against the prevailing winds and currents - first crossing the Atlantic Ocean and Equator to the South American port of Buenos Aires. The following leg to Wellington will involve sailing into the Southern Ocean, encountering the Roaring Forties, and rounding the notorious 'Sailor's Everest' Cape Horn. A short leg to Sydney is followed by another treacherous Southern Ocean leg rounding the Cape of Good Hope and on to Cape Town. The yachts will then encounter the light winds of the Doldrums on their way to Boston, before reaching their penultimate destination, La Rochelle in south-west France, finally returning to Portsmouth in the summer of 2005.

Only the teamwork, seamanship, skill and determination of the crews will make the difference between winning and losing.

The Global Challenge is organised by Challenge Business, founded in 1989 by Sir Chay Blyth, who was the first person to sail single-handed, non-stop around the world against the prevailing winds. Crew volunteers are not required to have any sailing experience, only the determination to take up the 'challenge of a lifetime, the adventure of their lives''.

Home

Schedule

Route
- Portsmouth
- Buenos Aires
- Wellington
- Sydney
- Cape Town
- Boston
- La Rochelle
- Portsmouth

Race Start Day

Team BG Spirit