A Royal Send Off

HRH, The Princess Royal will be firing the start cannon on 3 October, completing a prestigious send off for the fleet from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.

The Princess Royal is President of official race charity, Save the Children, and has been Patron of the Global Challenge since British Steel Challenge in 1992. After generously donating her name to the overall prize, crews now compete for ‘The Princess Royal Trophy’.

She will be meeting the teams in Gunwharf Quays before starting the World’s Toughest Yacht Race from Southsea Castle, with thousands of spectators expected to give the fleet a well deserved send off.

The Princess has started all the Global Challenge races except the 2000/01 race, which she only missed due to prior commitments at the Sydney Olympics.

“It is great that the Princess will be starting the Race again,” says race organiser Simon WALKER, “she has always been a huge fan of the Race. The crews are always impressed with her level of genuine interest and enthusiasm.”

The race will start at 2pm, amid an electric atmosphere of mixed emotions. Crew volunteers from all walks of life will be leaving their loved ones behind to fulfil their ambitions and sail ‘the wrong way’ round the world.