After months of anticipation, the lucky few have been chosen – Six skippers, and six mates, were told last night at a special ceremony in St. Katherine’s Dock, London, that they have been selected to compete in the inaugural Challenge Transat 2002 yacht race. The sailors, chosen from many hopefuls, will each be assigned to one of six identical 72ft Global Challenge Race yachts and will take responsibility for 16 voluntary crew, made up of people from all walks of life. The skippers and mates now have just three months to formulate their strategies and prepare themselves and their yachts before the event starts on the 25 August 2002.

Sir Chay Blyth, executive chairman of organiser Challenge Business, Simon Walker, managing director and Jeremy Troughton, sailing manager, had the arduous task of selecting the skilled yachtsman. The skippers and mates will learn who their crews are on 27th July and will then have just three weeks to train as a team before the race starts. These crews will also change when the yachts arrive in Boston for the return race back to the UK. The skippers and mates will then have just 10 days to prepare their return crews before the downwind sprint home.

The last few berths are still up for grabs with a price tag of £4,950. Full training is given to crew, some of whom have never stepped onto a boat before they start their training sails. Further information is available from the Web site: www.challengebusiness.com