2nd July 2003 - "Sailing Around the World" by Helen Bentley
BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
29 September 1996 to 17 July 1997
With the support of BT as the Title-Holder, the 96-97 Global Challenge was launched. Challenge Business built more yachts and refitted the existing ones to enable a fleet of 14 to race around the world.
Working with BT and the Yacht Sponsors, the route was changed to better meet their commercial needs, whilst still racing the wrong way across the Southern Ocean.
The
Fleet set off
from
Southampton to
Rio, then to
Wellington, New
Zealand via
Cape Town.
After a short
leg to Sydney
the Fleet raced
across the
Southern Ocean
to Cape Town.
From there they
raced to
Boston, USA
before the
final
transatlantic
crossing to
Southampton.
Again, the Race was a huge success with many thousands following its progress around the world.
Report of Helen's presentation to come, SOON
The Race was won by "Group 4", skippered by Mike Golding.
Overall race results
|
1st |
Group 4 |
161 days |
|
2nd |
Toshiba Wave Warrior |
163 days |
|
3rd |
Save The Children |
165 days |
|
4th |
Motorola |
165 days |
|
5th |
Commercial Union |
167 days |
|
6th |
Global Teamwork |
169 days |
|
7th |
Nuclear Electric |
171 days |
|
8th |
Ocean Rover |
171 days |
|
9th |
3Com |
171 days |
|
10th |
Pause To Remember |
172 days |
|
11th |
Courtaulds International |
173 days |
|
12th |
Heath Insured II |
174 days |
|
13th |
Concern |
174 days |
|
14th |
Time &Tide |
176 days |
www.pplmedia.comOcean photographs are by kind permission of PPL Photo Agency who retains copyright.
In 1996 Jon Nash of PPL Photo Agency flew to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to shoot the arrival of the BT Global Challenge yachts on the first leg of the around the world race. When the opportunity came up to participate in the next leg of the race – Rio to Wellington - Jon jumped at the chance. He joined the crew of the race favourite Nuclear Electric and documented the 42-day, 6600-mile adventure as an active crewmember and photographer. The harrowing voyage, rounding Cape Horn and crossing the freezing Southern Ocean en route to New Zealand, turned out to be one of the hardest and most demanding shoots Jon Nash has ever undertaken.