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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE SPORTING HEROES MAKE HISTORY Southampton (UK), Tuesday 17th June 1997 In the last leg of the BT Global Challenge, 14 people made history when they became the first all disabled crew to circumnavigate the world. The crew, of the yacht Time & Tide arrived in Boston last week after completing the fifth leg of the race from Cape Town, South Africa to Boston, USA, the leg which put them in the history books for ever. The yacht Time & Tide is crewed by 14 men and women who have all overcome a disability or life threatening illness to take part in the challenge of a lifetime - a race around the world against the prevailing winds and currents, through the world's most hostile oceans and against the other 13 able bodied crews taking part in the race. Time & Tide is identical to the other yachts in the fleet, no concessions have been made or special equipment provided to make the yacht easier to sail. Time & Tide wanted to compete on equal terms and they have. The Disabilities on board Time & Tide include missing limbs (five of the crew have only one leg each and another is missing his lower arm and hand); cerebral palsy, muscle wasting disease, profound deafness and the after effects of heart disease and cancer. Skipper, James Hatfield has himself overcome eight open heart operations, after rupturing his aorta at the age of 19. The Time & Tide Trust's mission statement for the race is Racing the Latitudes to Change Attitudes. By becoming the first disabled crew to sail around the world they are doing exactly just that. Time & Tide crew volunteer David Tait said, "On a personal level there is a great sense of achievement. I also hope we've managed to achieve our goal of changing attitudes towards disabilities." Another yachting hero associated with the race, was also celebrating this weekend. Chay Blyth CBE BEM, creator of the BT Global Challenge was honoured in the Queens Birthday list for his service to sailing. He receives a knighthood which means that the crews of the yacht will now be calling him `Sir Chay'. Chay Blyth first made history when he rowed across the North Atlantic with Captain John Ridgway in 1966. Four years later, in 1970 he became the first person to sail non-stop around the world from east to west, against the prevailing winds. In 1989 he established The Challenge Business and the British Steel Challenge, forerunner to the BT Global Challenge. Speaking from Boston this weekend, where he was welcoming the crews of the BT Global Challenge, Chay said, "It may be my award but I would like to dedicate it for everyone that has ever worked for me. The honour is the result of a team effort." For updated information on the BT Global Challenge : Internet site : http//www.btchallenge.com Fax database : 0990 321123 (+44 990 321123 from outside UK) Recorded telephone information line : 0891 505550 (UK only) Public enquiry bureau : 01703 212124 (+44 1703 212124 from outside UK) Ceefax page 388 (UK only) |
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