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The Boat
Built to take part in the toughest yacht race in the world
Challenge Wales was originally known as Challenge Business 47 and successfully took part in two round the world races (BT Global Challenge 2000/2001 and the Global Challenge 2004/5). Designed by Robert Humphreys and built by Devenport Yachts in 2000, she was one of 12 identical yachts that took part in the toughest yacht race in the world and covering some 29,000 nautical miles.
The yachts were built with a steel hull and stainless steel deck. The steel was laser cut giving a high standard of precision and a quality build.
In the Global Challenge 2000/2001 the yacht was racing under the name Olympic, having been sponsored by the Olympic Group. The skipper was Manley Hopkinson and the yacht finished in 9th place (out of 12) taking 183 days to complete.
Having 12 identical boats racing put everybody on the same level playing field meaning that it was teamwork, stamina, strategy and determination that could mean the difference between winning and losing.
In the Global Challenge 2004/5 she finished in joint seventh place (under the yacht name VAIO). Skippered by Amedeo Sorrentino she finished the race in 170 days 11 hours 31 minutes and 10 seconds.
By sailing around the world the yacht has experienced weather conditions from gentle airs to gusts of over 60 knots, and from the seas lapping against the side of the boat to 50 foot waves crashing onto the deck.
Amongst other activities she took part in after the Global Challenge races, was the Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge where she was a safety vessel.
Click on the drawing to enlarge
Click on the drawing to enlarge
Challenge Wales specification:
| Area | Imperial | Metric |
| Length overall | 72 ft | 22 m |
| Beam | 18 ft 2 in | 5.5 m |
| Height of mast above waterline | 95 ft | 29 m |
| Sail area windward | 2825 sq ft | 262.5 sq m |
| Sail area downwind | 4020 sq ft | 373 sq m |
| Ballast Keel weight | 10.3 tonnes | 10.4 tons |
| Fuel tank capacity | 475 gallons | 2150 litres |
| Water tank capacity | 390 gallons | 1775 litres |
Challenge Wales has no autopilot or furling gear meaning everything that happens on the boat is manual. This was key in her past life in the Global Challenge races as there is less opportunity for key components of the yacht to break, and when you are sailing in the Southern Ocean this is critical.
