Editing Global Challenge (section)

{{Short description|Round the world yacht race}}
{{about|a yacht race|global challenges|global issue}}
The '''Global Challenge''' (not to be confused with [[Global Challenge Award]]) was around a world [[yacht]] race run by Challenge Business, the company started by Sir [[Chay Blyth]] in 1989. It was held every four years and took a fleet of [[one-design]] steel yachts, crewed by ordinary men and women who had paid to take part, round [[Cape Horn]] and through the [[Southern Ocean]] where winds can reach {{convert|70|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}. The fee for the last race proposed (in 2008) was £28,750. It was unique in that the race took the westabout route worldwide against prevailing winds and currents, often referred to as the ‘wrong way’ route.

The race's route covered a distance of some {{convert|29,000|nmi|km|abbr=on}}. It changed to accommodate different ports of call, but in 2004/5, it started from [[Portsmouth]] (UK) and stopped at [[Buenos Aires]] (ARG), [[Wellington]] (NZ), [[Sydney]] (AUS), [[Cape Town]] (SA), [[Boston]] (USA), and [[La Rochelle]] (FRA) before returning again to Portsmouth.

The event claimed the motto “The World’s Toughest Yacht Race” and was the ultimate sailing challenge for amateur sailors.  The official charity for the races was [[Save the Children]], and the race patron was [[Anne, Princess Royal|The Princess Royal]].

After failing to secure a title [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]], the company went into administration on 9 October 2006, appointing Grant Thornton as administrators and placing the future of the race in doubt.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/71784.html|title=Sir Chay Blyth yachting company in crisis|publisher=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|date=2006-10-10|accessdate=2006-10-10|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130505111551/http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/71784.html|archivedate=2013-05-05}}</ref> The fleet was then put up for sale.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.berthoninternational.com/|title=Berthon International Yacht Brokers &#124; Part of the Berthon Sales Group|website=Berthon International|access-date=2020-11-11|archive-date=2020-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117140046/https://www.berthoninternational.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>