On Sunday 13 February, a fleet of 12 identical 72-foot round-the-world yachts is due to sail through Sydney Heads for the Sydney stop-over of the Global Challenge, classed as one of the world’s toughest yacht races.

“It’s tough because they race ‘the wrong way’ around the world – against the prevailing winds and currents,” says the official web site for the event www.globalchallenge2004.com/en/

On Sunday October 3, 2004, the fleet set sail from Portsmouth, each yacht crewed by 17 ordinary men and women and led by a professional skipper, and en route they’ll stop in Buenos Aires, Wellington, Sydney, Cape Town, Boston and La Rochelle before returning to Portsmouth ten months after the starting date. 

The race to date has been the closest ever – with the first six yachts all within two points of each other. One particular ‘battle’ to watch is between the two Sydney skippers – Matt Riddell on Samsung, and Andy Forbes on BG SPIRIT.  Both will want line honours on home turf!

Similar to when the round-the-world race arrived in Sydney four years ago, the CYCA will provide the facilities to finish the Wellington to Sydney leg (due approx. February 13) and to escort each yacht to its berth at the National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour. The Club will also facilitate the yachts clearing Immigration, Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the fleet’s liaison with NSW Maritime (formerly Waterways).

Once the formalities of finishing the fleet are completed, the Club will host a crew arrival party on February 15 before restarting the fleet on Sunday February 27.