BT Global Challenge

Question
What is the BT Global Challenge? Answer
The BT Global Challenge is a yacht race the "wrong way" round the world. 14 yachts will be taking part, each crewed by 13 fee-paying volunteers and a professional skipper. The race will leave Ocean Village, Southampton (UK) on 29 September 1996, returning in July 1997. Ports the race will visit are Rio de Janeiro, Wellington, Sydney, Cape Town and Boston.

Question
What do you mean by the "wrong way" around the world? Answer
Sailing against the prevailing winds and currents, east to west rather than the more conventional west to east route.

Question
Can I e-mail the yachts? Answer
No it is not possible for anybody other than authorised users to e-mail the yachts. Friends and family can contact the yachts via Portishead Radio. This can be either booking a call to the yacht or by relaying a text message (at a cost).

Question
As a radio listener, can I use my HF radio to follow the fleet ? Answer
It would be very difficult to follow the fleet using HF radio due to regular switching of frequencies and unscheduled talk times.

Question
How to I enter the next race ? Answer
The Challenge Business will be running a similar race in the year 2000. Further information can be obtained from the Challenge Business on +44 (0) 1579 348387 or fax +44 (0) 1579 347255.

Question
How often are the race results updated ? Answer
They are updated at least four times a day, sometimes more frequently if racing is particularly close. These updates apply to all methods of race results access.

Question
How can I follow the race? Answer
Race results are being communicated in a variety of forms :
Fax polling - +44 990 321 123
Public Information Bureau- +44 1703 212124
Recorded Race Information Line 0891 505550 (UK only)
Press - newspapers, magazines
Television - documentaries, news

Question
What is Chay Blyth's involvement in the race? Answer
Chay Blyth pioneered the first race of this kind - the British Steel Challenge 1992/93. He is Managing Director of The Challenge Business - the company responsible for running the BT Global Challenge.

Question
Why did BT sponsor the race? Answer
BT's sponsorship of the world's toughest yacht race reflect its own business strengths and ethos. Success in the BT Global Challenge depends on teamwork, effective communications, pushing past the limits and maintaining a competitive edge. All these qualities are central to BT's own challenge to become the leading global business communications systems provider.

Question
What qualifications were required by crew applicants? Answer
None - they are everyday people wanting to achieve the ambition of a lifetime

Question
How were the crew selected and what money was involved? Answer
An advertisement invited applications from potential crew volunteers. A shortlist was then compiled for interview. Those selected were offered a place on the BT Global Challenge. Each crew volunteer must pay £18,750 to take part in the race, additionally, a number of legs were available to fee paying crew who wished to complete only a single leg of the race.

Question
Are there any disabled crew volunteers? Answer
Yes - The Time and Tide Trust, a registered charity which aims to promote the sporting abilities of disabled people, has taken a yacht in the race and all crew including skipper, have some form of physical disability. The Time and Tide Trust attract funding from the private and public sectors, raising money to pay for the yacht sponsorship fee. Their aim is to take the 'dis' out of disability.

Question
Do all crew volunteers have to complete all six legs? Answer
No - A number of berths were made available to fee paying crew who wished to complete only a single leg of the race. A number of sponsors took this opportunity to allow their employees to fulfil an ambition, inviting them to apply for a leg, sometimes referred to as 'leggers'.

Question
What are the names of each yacht? Answer
Nuclear Electric, Toshiba Wave Warrior, Courtaulds International, Heath Insured II, Commercial Union Assurance, Group 4, Motorola, Global Teamwork, Time and Tide, Ocean Rover, Concert, Pause to Remember, Save the Children, 3Com.

Question
What is a Business Club Member? Answer
Approximately 200 companies have paid to become a Business Club Member to the race. This provides each member with placement of their company logo on the bow of a yacht, corporate sailing days and networking opportunities.

Question
What is the yacht construction? Answer
Designed by David Thomas, built by DML Dockyard Plymouth, 14 identical, all-steel, 67ft yachts. Each of the hulls is fabricated from 4mm steel plate. The masts - tailor-made for the rigours of the BT Global Challenge - are designed to combine flexibility with light weight and strength, and are made from extruded aluminium.

Question
Who is the patron of the race? Answer
HRH The Princess Royal. The award to be presented to the winning yacht is the HRH Princess Royal Trophy.

Question
Which charity is the beneficiary ? Answer
Save The Children
Question
Will we be seeing live pictures coming back from the yachts? Answer
No - for safety reasons it was not possible to install Inmarsat-A on board each of the BT Global Challenge yachts. This would have required a large heavy dome to be fitted aft of the cockpit. These yachts were not designed to accommodate such a dome.

bt.com
	Copyright British Telecommunications plc 1996.


	*Question* What is the BT Global Challenge?	*Answer* The BT Global Challenge is a yacht race the "wrong way" round the world. 14 yachts will be taking part, each crewed by 13 fee-paying volunteers and a professional skipper. The race will leave Ocean Village, Southampton (UK) on 29 September 1996, returning in July 1997. Ports the race will visit are Rio de Janeiro, Wellington, Sydney, Cape Town and Boston.
	*Question* What do you mean by the "wrong way" around the world?	*Answer* Sailing against the prevailing winds and currents, east to west rather than the more conventional west to east route.
	*Question* Can I e-mail the yachts?	*Answer* No it is not possible for anybody other than authorised users to e-mail the yachts. Friends and family can contact the yachts via Portishead Radio. This can be either booking a call to the yacht or by relaying a text message (at a cost).
	*Question* As a radio listener, can I use my HF radio to follow the fleet ?	*Answer* It would be very difficult to follow the fleet using HF radio due to regular switching of frequencies and unscheduled talk times.
	*Question* How to I enter the next race ?	*Answer* The Challenge Business will be running a similar race in the year 2000. Further information can be obtained from the Challenge Business on +44 (0) 1579 348387 or fax +44 (0) 1579 347255.
	*Question* How often are the race results updated ?	*Answer* They are updated at least four times a day, sometimes more frequently if racing is particularly close. These updates apply to all methods of race results access.
	*Question* How can I follow the race?	*Answer* Race results are being communicated in a variety of forms : Fax polling - +44 990 321 123 Public Information Bureau- +44 1703 212124 Recorded Race Information Line 0891 505550 (UK only) Press - newspapers, magazines Television - documentaries, news
	*Question* What is Chay Blyth's involvement in the race?	*Answer* Chay Blyth pioneered the first race of this kind - the British Steel Challenge 1992/93. He is Managing Director of The Challenge Business - the company responsible for running the BT Global Challenge.
	*Question* Why did BT sponsor the race?	*Answer* BT's sponsorship of the world's toughest yacht race reflect its own business strengths and ethos. Success in the BT Global Challenge depends on teamwork, effective communications, pushing past the limits and maintaining a competitive edge. All these qualities are central to BT's own challenge to become the leading global business communications systems provider.
	*Question* What qualifications were required by crew applicants?	*Answer* None - they are everyday people wanting to achieve the ambition of a lifetime
	*Question* How were the crew selected and what money was involved?	*Answer* An advertisement invited applications from potential crew volunteers. A shortlist was then compiled for interview. Those selected were offered a place on the BT Global Challenge. Each crew volunteer must pay £18,750 to take part in the race, additionally, a number of legs were available to fee paying crew who wished to complete only a single leg of the race.
	*Question* Are there any disabled crew volunteers?	*Answer* Yes - The Time and Tide Trust, a registered charity which aims to promote the sporting abilities of disabled people, has taken a yacht in the race and all crew including skipper, have some form of physical disability. The Time and Tide Trust attract funding from the private and public sectors, raising money to pay for the yacht sponsorship fee. Their aim is to take the 'dis' out of disability.
	*Question* Do all crew volunteers have to complete all six legs?	*Answer* No - A number of berths were made available to fee paying crew who wished to complete only a single leg of the race. A number of sponsors took this opportunity to allow their employees to fulfil an ambition, inviting them to apply for a leg, sometimes referred to as 'leggers'.
	*Question* What are the names of each yacht?	*Answer* Nuclear Electric, Toshiba Wave Warrior, Courtaulds International, Heath Insured II, Commercial Union Assurance, Group 4, Motorola, Global Teamwork, Time and Tide, Ocean Rover, Concert, Pause to Remember, Save the Children, 3Com.
	*Question* What is a Business Club Member?	*Answer* Approximately 200 companies have paid to become a Business Club Member to the race. This provides each member with placement of their company logo on the bow of a yacht, corporate sailing days and networking opportunities.
	*Question* What is the yacht construction?	*Answer* Designed by David Thomas, built by DML Dockyard Plymouth, 14 identical, all-steel, 67ft yachts. Each of the hulls is fabricated from 4mm steel plate. The masts - tailor-made for the rigours of the BT Global Challenge - are designed to combine flexibility with light weight and strength, and are made from extruded aluminium.
	*Question* Who is the patron of the race?	*Answer* HRH The Princess Royal. The award to be presented to the winning yacht is the HRH Princess Royal Trophy.
	*Question* Which charity is the beneficiary ?	*Answer* Save The Children
	*Question* Will we be seeing live pictures coming back from the yachts?	*Answer* No - for safety reasons it was not possible to install Inmarsat-A on board each of the BT Global Challenge yachts. This would have required a large heavy dome to be fitted aft of the cockpit. These yachts were not designed to accommodate such a dome.

Copyright British Telecommunications plc 1996.