The world's toughest yacht race

30,000 nautical miles, 150 days at sea, 50-foot waves and winds over 70 miles per hour - conditions that make the Global Challenge truly the challenge of a lifetime. In Autumn 2008, 12 identical 72ft ocean racing yachts will sail from the UK, ready not just to survive those conditions, but to race through them. Each yacht will be crewed by seventeen ordinary men and women drawn from a variety of different backgrounds, ages and abilities. Led by a professional skipper, they will all have one common objective, to achieve something extraordinary.

Excitement, adventure and competition
The aim of the Global Challenge has always been to provide ordinary people with the opportunity to do something extraordinary. With twelve equally matched crews on identical 72ft racing yachts, a level playing field is provided for a race that is played out on a Global stage. The desire for excitement, adventure and competition are a pre-requisite for all those taking part. The barriers normally associated with adventure sport are not a consideration with the Global Challenge, where 70% of the crews never having even set foot on a boat before they start their training. Every aspect of the race is handled with the utmost professionalism and above all with a view to maintaining maximum safety for all involved.

Global audience
The event itself is a multifaceted experience with a large business community both sponsoring and supporting the race - over 120 organisations can participate in the event through a variety of sponsorship and partnerships. A global audience of spectators will also be supporting the race, visiting the ports of call, following the event on the race website and through coverage in the world's media.

Source: challengebusiness.com