Challenge 67, WHIRLWIND

Broker’s Comments

The Challenge 67′ Class yachts were designed for The Challenge Business by David Thomas, specifically to race around the world “the wrong way”. The design brief called for exceptionally strong, seaworthy, fast, attractive, modern, steel yachts that were able to sail to windward across the Southern Ocean in relative comfort.

Safety was paramount both in terms of structural strength and crew safety. Because of the One Design nature of the race, the design was not influenced or distorted by any rating rule and a sensible displacement was specified. Other important design considerations include, ease of access to the structure, equipment, systems, wiring and fittings for maintenance and inspections both at sea and in harbour. Every piece of equipment had to be robust enough to survive a race around the world with minimum maintenance.

Many of the design principles were based on Sir Chay Blyth’s (then unique) experience of sailing around the world single handed against the prevailing winds and currents.

Devonport Yachts (DML) were chosen to build the fleet to Bureau Veritas highest notation. The construction method allows relatively simple and cost effective alterations to the interior layout.

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Owner’s Comments

Being used for the last 10 years in our French Sailing School based in South Brittany, WHIRLWIND has welcomed trainees for sailing courses heading to Brittany, Isles of Scilly, Ireland, Azores, ARC, Caribbean islands as well as Atlantic crossing.

Pleasure and safety first! She gives a feeling of power as well as inspiring confidence: she’ll never let you down even if you deserve it! Being strongly built, one feels confident aboard. Made for offshore sailing, her big size and tonnage of the ship are an advantage for training and anticipating all situations at sea.

Anticipation is the right word to sail, which means security.

With 10 berths for crew members, supervised by 2 professional sailors, she’s able to sail across the Atlantic as well as up in the North Atlantic without effort.

Transat, tall ship race, training session, polar expedition, corporate regatta, charter… All these programmes are perfect for her!

Asked what we love most about WHIRLWIND – this is a difficult question, but overall she brings a feeling of well being aboard whatever the weather conditions – in heavy weather she performs reliably and in light airs she is excellent too. With her 30 year old design the Challenge Business heritage, her design will never date in terms of her seaworthiness and comfort for crewed sailing in all conditions.