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What is the BT Global Challenge?

The BT Global Challenge is a unique race that takes place every four years that sees 12 teams compete for the coveted Princess Royal Trophy on a westabout route around the world, against the spin of the earth. The route covers 32000 miles and is split into 7 legs of varying durations. It starts in Southampton, visits Boston, Buenos Aires, Wellington, Sydney, Capet Town, La Rochelle and finishes back in Southampton. It’s the ultimate challenge in amateur sailing.

Each team is made up of 17 diverse amateurs from across the globe who pay for the privilege, and led by 1 professional sailor on identical 72-foot steel ocean racing yachts. Each team is balanced by male to female ration, age spread, weight and experience. However, it is a known fact that 70% of the people who apply have never sailed before. Each yacht is sponsored which not only allows the company naming rights but also 2 places per leg for chosen employees or stakeholders to take part.

They call it the World’s Toughest Yacht Race… And you can see why!

Click to  Learn more  about this epic challenge, by  Mark Denton , Consultant and Motivational Speaker for HPD.

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Hello. This article was really fascinating, particularly since I was investigating for thoughts on this matter last Saturday. Rheta Ole Noell

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High Performance Development is a training and development company, based in Hampshire, between Southampton and Portsmouth.

We develop bespoke training courses that challenge and motivate individuals, teams and organisations to attain higher levels of performance.

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Round the world races: 3 new budget events

• May 14, 2021

With adventure and endurance racing still on the up, particularly in the world of amateur yachting, three new races are due to be launched in the coming year as the boom continues

Sea Dragon is a former BT Challenge round the world racing yacht that has been refitted for use conducting ocean research

A clutch of ‘budget friendly’ new round the world races for sailor-owners has tapped into renewed enthusiasm for adventure and endurance sailing. All three new events are set to take off in 2023.

The Global Solo Race non-stop single handed round the world race, planned for 2023, has already attracted 12 entries. It is organised by Italian sailor Marco Nannini, who took part in Josh Hall’s Global Ocean Race for Class 40s in 2011, and set up the Global Solo Race with Hall.

A fleet of 18 yachts left Les Sables d’Olonne for the Golden globe recreation race on 1 July 2018. Photo: Christophe Favreau / PPL / GGR

The race is open to monohulls from 32-55ft with an IRC rating below 1.25. The skippers entered so far are aged between 35 and 67 and are from Belgium, Switzerland, UK, Netherlands, France, Italy and Bulgaria with yachts ranging from an S&S 34 to a Farr 45.

Another event in the offing is the Race Around, a round the world race for Class 40s. Unlike the Global Solo Race, this is a multi-stage circumnavigation that will stop in Cape Town, New Zealand and Rio before returning to Europe to a finish possibly in the UK.

Phil Sharp racing his Class 40

The Race Around is being organised by Sam Holliday and Hugh Piggin, who both have roots in the Class 40 scene. They have recently added a solo section to the event to run alongside the double-handed class.

The Race Around seeks to attract high level sailors already active in Mini 6.50s, Figaros or Class 40s and to bridge the gulf that exists between these more affordable classes and the multi-million budgets of the IMOCA 60s that race in the Vendée Globe.

A third race to watch out for is Don Macintyre’s retro Ocean Globe Race, also due to start in 2023.

This fully crewed race follows on from the Australian adventurer’s successful 2018 solo Golden Globe Race, and has an old-school twist too: it harks back to the Whitbread Race days of the 1970s and 1980s and is only open to glassfibre production yachts of 47-66ft that were designed before 1988.

This will also have a multi-stage route starting in Europe with stops in South Africa, Australia or New Zealand and South America before returning to Europe.

We’ll have a complete round up of the new round the world races in a future issue. We’ll look at what it costs, investigate ways they could be done by a syndicate, and talk to skippers planning to take part.

More details can be found at: globalsolochallenge.com , theracearound.com and oceangloberace.com

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ABOUT CONRAD

Conrad Humphreys is an experienced leader and motivational speaker who has spent over two decades leading teams in some of the most hostile places on the planet.  As a professional yachtsman, Conrad has raced three times around the world, has won the BT Global Challenge and became the fifth British sailor in history to complete the legendary Vendee Globe. More recently, Conrad was the professional skipper for Channel 4’s recreation of Captain Bligh’s 4000 mile open boat journey, Mutiny.

“As a business leader it is rare to hear about an experience which offers not only a wealth of learning and insight but manages to reach each listener in a uniquely personal way. Conrad is a joy and inspiration to listen to. It was a privilege to hear him speak.” BT

BIOGRAPHY AND CAREER

Conrad is a triple round the world yachtsman. He competed as the youngest entrant in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race (now Volvo Ocean Race ). As skipper, he led his team to victory in the BT Global Challenge by dominating the race and winning 4 out of 7 legs. Conrad became the fifth British yachtsman in history to complete the legendary Vendée Globe , single-handed, non-stop around the world without assistance despite major setbacks when his yacht’s rudder suffered significant damage when it collided with a floating object en route to the Southern Ocean.

Most recently Conrad was the professional skipper onboard the tiny 23ft open boat, Bounty’s End in the recreation of Captain Bligh’s epic story of survival , Mutiny on the Bounty for Channel 4. Using traditional navigation equipment and surviving off the same meagre rations as Bligh, nine men were cast adrift 35 miles to the south of Tofua near the Kingdom of Tonga in a replica boat. Their mission, to survive and safely navigate across 4000 miles of open ocean to Kupang, Timor and recreate one of the world’s greatest open boat voyages of British history.

Conrad is highly sought after motivational speaker and leadership coach. He was worked for some of the world’s leading companies and specialises in designing innovative leadership programmes for executive teams. His leadership story, Inspiring Leadership, Staying afloat in turbulent times has been published by Thomson Learning and is a ground-breaking book looking at the effective leadership lessons from the World’s Toughest Yacht Race.

MUTINY, CHANNEL 4

In 1789, Lieutenant William Bligh and 18 loyal crew were cast adrift in a tiny 23ft open boat after the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty. They survived the ordeal and managed to reach Timor after a 4000 mile voyage across the South Pacific Ocean. It is regarded as one of the greatest survival stories in British maritime history.

In 2016, Conrad was the professional skipper for Channel 4’s recreation of the voyage along with TV star, Ant Middleton. Using traditional navigation equipment and surviving off the same meagre rations as Bligh, nine men were cast adrift 35 miles to the south of Tofua near the Kingdom of Tonga in a replica boat. Their mission, to survive and safely navigate across 4000 miles of open ocean to Kupang, Timor and recreate one of the world’s greatest open boat voyages of British history.

WRITING AND TV

Conrad writes for a number of sailing and outdoor magazines. His official story of the 2004-5 Vendee Globe was commissioned for BBC2 and most recently he presented the Mayflower 400 documentary for BBC Inside Out.

SPORT ENVIRONMENT

Conrad is the founder of Sport Environment, a sports marketing and event management consultancy that specialises in sailing and outdoor sports. Conrad advises clients in all areas of sports marketing, from sponsorship to employee engagement. He has worked extensively with brands, rights holders and some brilliant creatives. Conrad has an extensive marketing background and a passion for creating innovative, integrated campaigns for brands and rights holders.

THE BOUNTY PROJECT

Conrad Humphreys launched the Bounty Project in 2017 after recreating the incredible voyage of Captain William Bligh, who along with 18 men, survived the 4000 mile open boat journey after the Mutiny on the Bounty . Conrad acquired Bounty’s End, the boat that was featured in the Channel 4 series and launched the Bounty Project as a living-history programme for schools and the public to experience the magic of Bligh’s incredible voyage.

To book Conrad for a schools talk or to experience a voyage in Bounty’s End, please visit www.bountyproject.co.uk where you will find more details.

“Our ambition is to create a legacy from the Channel 4 series and inspire young people to take a leaf from Captain Bligh’s book and venture out into the world with confidence, resilience, courage and determination.”

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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.

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Latest News: PEN DUICK VI TAKES OFF! – MCINTYRE OGR

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2023 Ocean Globe Race announces Ocean Village Southampton UK as start port

• UK start for the 50th anniversary celebration of the first 1973 Whitbread Race saved by anonymous corporate partner and MDL Marinas bringing this iconic sailing race home to Southampton
• Tracy Edwards and her Maiden team, the only UK entrant in the OGR, are excited to relive their Whitbread dream once again and race around the world
• 15 yachts including six previous Whitbread entrants and one Whitbread winner confirmed for the September 10th OGR start

When Don McIntyre decided in 2015 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ever Whitbread crewed race around the world, it had to start in the UK. That’s where the Whitbread story began.

He did the same thing when deciding to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race which also started from the UK. Sadly no support came from British ports so the 2018 GGR went to Les Sables d’Olonne in France (home of the Vendee Globe) where it was welcomed with open arms and strong investment that generated US$185m in media returns. The third edition GGR2022 is due to finish there in a few weeks.

Until now it looked like the Ocean Globe Race was going the same way. In an October 2022 press release announcing Cape Town, Auckland and Punta Del Este as the OGR stopover ports and after years of trying, OGR announced that ‘sadly UK ports are not interested in hosting the start and finish of this epic adventure and historic occasion’. Final discussions were underway with European ports for the hosting rights.

Fortunately that statement was picked up by a large corporate entity with UK connections. They felt strongly that the OGR should stay in the UK. At the same time MDL Marinas wanted to save the event for the UK as a celebration of their own 50th anniversary. They were passionate about bringing this iconic sailing race back to Southampton and their Ocean Village Marina , the home of so many previous Whitbread races. A deal was struck with both parties and now Ocean Village Southampton is the home of the OGR! This is a huge win for the UK that has seen other significant events move to Europe.

I am absolutely thrilled to have MDL onboard for the 2023 Ocean Globe Race and starting from Ocean Village in Southampton is a personal dream for me. Now, in September, the UK public and sailors everywhere will be able to celebrate an important part of their maritime culture with a true recreation of those first amateur sailors racing into the unknown! Don McIntyre, Ocean Globe Race Founder & Owner of McIntyre Adventure

On 10 September 2023, over 160 sailors will depart Ocean Village onboard the 15 yachts to complete the four leg, 30,000 mile race around the world via the three great capes; Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin, and South America’s notorious Cape Horn. Onboard the privately-owned, pre-1988 classic sailing boats, the international, mixed-gender crews will have no GPS, no high-tech equipment and no computers. They will navigate using only a sextant, paper charts and the stars with all communications by HF SSB radios. They will return in April 2024.

Six of the yachts competing have taken part in one or more of the Whitbread races (including the first French yacht to ever win the Whitbread) to which they are now paying homage. One of the most notable is Tracy Edwards ’ Farr 58 Maiden . In 1990, Tracy triumphantly brought home the first ever all-female Whitbread crew onboard Maiden to Ocean Village Marina. At the time, it was estimated that almost 50,000 people came to witness this momentous event, which helped to turn the tide on women’s participation in sailing.

What better way to celebrate MDL Marina’s 50th anniversary than to join forces with Don McIntyre to bring the Ocean Globe Race to life to celebrate the iconic Whitbread Round the World race as it also turns 50. By hosting the start of this retro edition of the historic race at our Ocean Village Marina, we’re hoping to recreate the jubilant atmosphere of the early races, welcoming crowds of supporters, capturing the imagination of visitors and inspiring the next generation of round the world sailors. Working closely with Southampton City Council and McIntyre Adventure it’s an honor and privilege to be part of this event, building on Southampton’s already proud maritime heritage. And there’s plenty of opportunities for businesses, both marine and non-marine, to be front and centre of all the action at the Race Village. Tim Mayer, Sales and Marketing Director at MDL Marinas

The Race Village at Ocean Village Marina will open on 26 August 2023, two weeks prior to the start of the race on 10 September. During the run up to the start, the Race Village will host speakers, pre-race activities, past race screenings, hospitality and entertainment as well as the media centre and sailors’ briefing area.

This is very good news indeed! I am delighted to hear that the 50th anniversary celebration of the first Whitbread is starting out of Ocean Village. This OGR will be a great race and huge adventure and tribute to all those original Whitbread sailors. Sir Chay Blyth OGR Patron and Official Starter

This is a chance for all UK sailors and yacht clubs to show they want and support these major events by heading out to the start, visiting the race village or volunteering to help the organisers make the event even bigger!

Any business interested in getting involved and partnering with this historic event in Ocean Village should contact Tim Mayer via [email protected] . For more information on the Ocean Globe Race visit https://oceangloberace.com . For more information on MDL and its marinas visit www.mdlmarinas.co.uk .

Don McIntyre OGR Chairman and Founder

Don McIntyre is the founder and underwriter of the goldengloberace.com the oceangloberace.com and the minigloberace.com . Follow him at mcintyreadventure.com .

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Do not enter the water: how dirty Boat Race has captured world’s attention

Sewage scandal has put extra focus on the race but enthusiasm is undimmed with Oxford favourites to end rivals’ dominance

T hroughout the Boat Race’s 195-year history, it has been regarded by the rest of the world as one of those peculiar British eccentricities, like Marmite and pantomime, that are best ignored. Not this year.

The New York Times, Fox News, ABC, CNN and numerous other international media have run stories in the buildup to Saturday’s race – although it is what is floating in the Thames, rather than on top of it, that has piqued their interest.

As Thursday’s New York Times put it: “The warning was stern: Do not enter the water. Not because of the tide. Not because of sharks. Because of the sewage.

“For almost two centuries, rowers from Oxford University have raced their rivals from Cambridge in a contest that typically ends with jubilant members of the victorious crew jumping into the River Thames in celebration. This year they will be staying as dry as possible.”

The discovery of high levels of E coli on the 4.25-mile course has not only further fuelled public anger at the deteriorating state of Britain’s rivers, but – as first revealed by the Guardian – also led organisers to issue tough new safety guidelines .

And according to Cambridge’s Carys Earl, a 21-year-old medicine undergraduate, everyone is taking those rules very seriously. “As soon as we get off the water – and before we touch any of our other kit or food – we immediately wash our hands,” she says. “We are also showering, covering cuts or bruises, and then making sure we’ve got fresh kit to get into. We’re constantly washing the boats and washing equipment as well.”

Meanwhile Oxford’s Annie Sharp, a 24-year-old who is studying for an MSc in water science, policy and management, has a professional as well as sporting interest in the gunk in the Thames. “The problem links back to the Victorian era,” she points out. “The sewage system was fantastic at the time, but it was built for a two million population. Now we have over 9.5 million.

“But there’s a really strong focus on innovation to make things better,” she says, pointing to new biofilter technology and different ideas to prevent nitrates leaching into the groundwater. “While for the River Thames, there is the Super Sewer, which will be finished this year. I was part of working on that previously, and I think it’s going to be really fantastic and transformative.”

But Earl’s and Sharp’s focus is mostly on Saturday afternoon when more than 250,000 people are expected to crowd the Thames for the 78th women’s and 169th men’s Boat Race. For Earl it has been some journey, given that she went to state school and stepped into a boat only when she arrived at Cambridge.

“My college put on a barbecue in Freshers’ Week and said anyone who’s interested can come down and get in the boat,” she says. “I thought it would be a bit of fun, and so I signed up for the novice programme. I absolutely loved it and it just sort of continued.”

Such has been Earl’s progress that she is now trying out for the British Under-23 squad. “It’s everybody’s dream to compete for a national team,” she says. “We’ve done erg tests, and my partner and I also went to the GB water trials where we came third overall, and first for the Under 23s, so we’ve now been invited back to the second round later in April. But for now all my focus is on Saturday’s race.”

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Earl will be sitting in the six seat, part of the engine room of Cambridge’s boat. But when she glances across at the start she will see Sharp, sitting in the same position for Oxford, confident of victory.

“We’ve got a lot of fantastic talent in our boat,” says Sharp, who is determined to win so she can tease her father, who rowed in the Isis (reserve) boat in 1990 but was disqualified at the bandstand. “We have six fantastic returnees. So people aren’t gonna be fazed by anything that happens in the race. Since day one we’ve really been building a fantastic boat and boat speed.”

The bookies agree with that assessment. Cambridge have won six straight in the women’s race, as well as four of the past five men’s races. However, Oxford are favourites this year in both events. But one randomising factor, according to Sharp, is the high water levels of the Thames this week, which have made conditions “definitely bumpy”.

Whatever happens, Earl says that the fact both Oxford and Cambridge have fused their men’s and women’s teams into one club over the past two years is further proof of the progress the women are making.

“There’s a lot better inclusivity and equality,” she says. “Getting to race on the Tideway on the same day as the men, as we have done since 2015, has been a gamechanger.”

• The Boat Race

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