Fastnet race crews chosen

Challenge Business crews have their boats allocated

The crews taking part in the Rolex Fastnet Race, aboard Challenge Business' fleet of race yachts, have been put into teams, with their skippers and yachts, and have undertaken their first training sails as race crews.

For the first time in the event's history a total of five of the Challenge class of yacht have been entered into the race, which is due to set sail on the 10th August 2003, and all of the crews' training is now well underway.

The Rolex Fastnet Race rules, as set out by RORC, stipulate a number of conditions for competing yachts' crews. Challenge Business has chosen to exceed these, and is giving its crews a much more thorough training package enabling individuals, who may previously have been excluded from taking part, the opportunity to experience this very famous yachting adventure.

In total, Challenge crews must complete four training sails, prior to the start of the race. They have now completed three including an onshore training weekend, which they recently undertook at Warsash Maritime Centre, learning about Basic Sea Survival and Elementary First Aid.

The fourth and final training sail will be the RORC qualifying race on 13 June where the teams will hone their skills and race for the Morgan Cup. Following this the crews will take to the start line and spend between four to five days racing, day and night, over 600 miles, in one of the most challenging offshore races in the yacht racing calendar.

The five Challenge Business skippers are some of the most qualified and experienced skippers the company has, which should make for a very competitive first race for the Challenge yachts. Skippers and teams are as follows:

Clive Cosby will sail aboard BG Group with: Frank Chapman (49), Kevin White (41), Andrew Smith (30), Ms Pauline Curling (56), Peter Holding (36), Chandru Dissanayeke (27), Robin Pollard (33), Peter Davison (55), Barry Heath (47), David Hemmings (40), Paul Minost (55), Laurie Proctor (38), Andrew Wilson (40), John Bavister (51), Ms Suzanne Readwin (30) and Peter Vickers (41)

David Melville will sail aboard Vail Williams with: Simon Hearn (46), Sebastian Hoyle (29), Phil Hedley (50), Ian Raper (50), Lee Leatham (34), Jim Morrison (39), Ms Jo King (39), Ms Julia Goddard (38), Maarten Commissaris (32), Michael Furber (32), Ali Sevket Karaca (35), Brian Taylor (55), Ms Mercedes Tech (37), Austen Gilbert (27), Jonathan Whitby (39) and Ms Vicky Sherwood (35)

Cal Tomlinson will sail aboard Basilica with: Ms Fiona Rolinson (29), Michael Hornsby (45), Nick Gorringe (31), Richard Garner (45), Paul Harris (32), Ms Alison Leahy (31), Mark Carver (36), Graham Talbot (51), Chris Thomson (55), Ms Christine Stapylton (36), Bill Bowden (60), Roger Hall (35), Mark James (31), Caleb Schappa (29), Simon Barratt (41) and Clive Roberts.

Ian Buchele will sail aboard Team SpirIT with: John Stubbs (56), Mark Thomas (45), Steve Moore (53), Martin Brooks (35), Mike Daly (48), Ms Sally Cahill (46), Neil Davey (50), Ms Alison Bennett (28), Andrew Share (36), Tom Mallabur (55), Geoff Hand (57), Anthony Neale (29), Paul Belcher (45), Dean Rock (35), Ms Alison Craske (36) and Keith Reading (40)

Duggie Gillespie will sail aboard Logica with: Jon Petter (31), Doug Webb (41), James North (22), Nathan Adams (30), Ms Anna Jordon (30), Ms Lisa Bondesio (36), Kevin O'Donohue (30), John Frudd (45), Nigel Perks (43), Chris Hughes (25), Peter Moate (48), Ms Katherine Marshall (37), Rhod Phillips, Iain Golder (40) and Ms Rachel Parratt (38)