BT Global Challenge - Preview

by News Editor on 10 Sep 2000 The BT Global Challenge is an around the world yacht race like no other
consisting of a gruelling 30,000-mile adventure.

Twelve identical 72 foot (22 metre) yachts will leave Southampton, England
today (Sunday 10 September), each carrying a professional skipper and 17
crew volunteers. The boats will race one another around the world 'the wrong
way' - against the prevailing winds and currents. The BT yachts do it the hard
way by sailing a westerly course, against the prevailing forces of nature.

For this year's race the new Challenge yachts differ from the previous design -
the biggest difference is that the new yachts are longer - 72 feet rather than
67 feet. They also incorporate a host of new safety features and technologies.

Each of the 12 BT Global Challenge boats are equipped with the most
advanced communications equipment afloat. This will enable you to follow all
the race action live. Through video, audio, e-mails and photos directly from the
boats, you'll be able to truly share in all the fun and fear as the race unfolds.

The race will take a total of ten months stopping at seven different ports as
detailed below.

Course:
Leg 1: Southampton - Boston
Leg 2: Boston - Buenos Aires
Leg 3: Buenos Aires - Wellington
Leg 4: Wellington - Sydney
Leg 5: Sydney - Cape Town
Leg 6: Cape Town - La Rochelle
Leg 7: La Rochelle - Southampton