Challenge 67, NASHACHATA II

Broker’s Comments

Challenge 67 NASHACHATA II is a great example of this world beating series of blue water, go anywhere yachts. Substantially refitted since she was sold by the Challenge Business, she has been maintained in class to MCA Category 0. Work carried out has included the fitting of a practical deckhouse which makes her ideal for high and low latitude sailing, a new rig, new systems and a major review of her interior to make her a comfortable and attractive environment for big passages. In 2021, she completed a major refit to check and overhaul the structure, update all her systems and to upgrade her cosmetically. She retains her MCA Category 0 classification, one of the few Challenge 67s to do so.

History of Challenge Yachts

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 and 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 harbor. 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.

Yachts Challenge Business 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30 were part of the ten strong fleet, which raced around the world in the British Steel Challenge in 1992/93. During the autumn of 1995, they underwent a series of detailed surveys and inspections. Whist the yachts and all their systems/equipment were found to be in exceptionally good condition, they underwent a major refit.

Yachts Challenge Business 31 through to 35 were built during 1994/95 and launched, together with the refitted yachts, in April 1996. All the Challenge 67′ yachts benefited from the lessons learned in the outstandingly successful British Steel Challenge, with many detailed changes/developments being incorporated during this refit. NASHACHATA II is No 33 – built in 1995.

The Challenge Fleet sailed a combined distance of over two million miles since the prototype was launched in 1990. The fourteen strong, BT Global Challenge fleet proved to be extremely reliable with identical performance.

Conclusions

The Challenge 67 Class yachts have proven themselves to be outstanding yachts; they are probably the strongest and most seaworthy fleet ever to have raced around the world.

The yachts have an almost legendary reputation for their performance in difficult conditions, comfort at sea and confidence inspiring ability. Their strength and ability also makes them ideal for high latitudes and gives almost unique access to many places that are inaccessible by other means.

The design lends itself to a wide variety of uses as well as Ocean Racing. The deck layout and accommodation makes the yachts suitable for corporate entertaining, adventure sailing, chartering and private use. The accommodation layout could be economically and quickly changed by virtue of the fact that the bulkheads do not penetrate the cabin soles.

The Challenge 67′ class yachts quality equipment and sound engineering ensures reliability and low maintenance costs. The frequent and stringent regime of surveys and inspections has illustrated that well built and maintained steel yachts can race around the world at least twice in the world’s toughest yacht race and still remain in Bureau Veritas highest notation. The surveys also show that the yachts are in extremely good condition and ready for further Challenges.

Owner’s Comments

Over the last 8 years of sailing, we have hosted more than 1,100 sailors, sailed 97,000 nautical miles and spent 18,000 hours in 110 consecutive sailing stages. NASHACHATA II has combatted extreme weather conditions and very demanding high altitude regions in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Because of this very intensive sailing NASHACHATA II required a general overhaul including the replacement of a significant number of installations. The entire revamp was carried out under the supervision of a British inspector from the MECAL office, to ensure Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) certification requirements of Code “0” for Small Commercial Vessels were met. Code “0” accreditation provides unlimited shipping, including commercial and polar regions. Having achieved such demanding requirements, the yacht guarantees supreme levels of both safety and sailing comfort.

During the first stage of the renovation, the engine and all the tanks were dismantled to facilitate precise thickness measurement of metal sheets and the structural control of the hull. Despite a mature age of 23, the hull is in perfect condition and hull plates have sustained 99.9% of original thickness. 12 layers of paint were coated in a shipyard in England – the precision in painting plus the additional protective layer of “wax” (applied in particular to the under water tanks) have ensured maximum protection against corrosion in an aggressive marine environment.

As a part of the interior hull body renovation, cleaning and varnish was supplemented in targeted corrosion areas and whole hull interior plates, below the waterline, were subject to three additional coats of paint. The mast step was replaced, with new floors and the supporting structures mounted, and only then were the tanks reinstalled. All through-hull valves were replaced and an additional independent engine cooling system installed. After disassembly, the engine was completely renovated, the pistons, valves and cylinders replaced. The engine compartment has been covered with a new insulating fireproof coating and equipped with a new extinguishing system. The engine received a new electrical installation and switchboard, allowing for additional control over operating parameters from the steering column.

As a part of the overhaul, all installations i.e. fuel, bilge, and water supply, electrical, hydraulic for bow thruster and autopilot were changed to new systems. Four new AGM batteries with capacity 480Ah, 24V have been installed. The steering column was disassembled, all bushings replaced and the shaft re-machined. Propeller shaft bearings were exchanged and a new shaft braking system installed. Additional B&G electronics, including a new autopilot AC12 computer with Triton 2 control and HSE 60 GPS compass were installed.

The yacht’s interior received heartfelt attention during renovations to provide maximum comfort and high-class solutions – the forepeak being redesigned with two new berths, providing the opportunity of alternative usage. The entire interior, including all cabins, was revived – the upholstery in the mess refurbished and pristine cabinets fitted in the galley and bathrooms. An upgraded air heating system based on two independent Eberspacher Airtronic D4 Plus units was installed. A new central heating system based on the Refleks central diesel furnace was installed, as well as a new 24V LED lighting system. All cabins have now been equipped with USB charging sockets.

Further investments include electric shower drainage pumps, an advanced gray water system in the galley which meets the premier ecological requirements and allows gray water to be collected through a connector in the deck. The anchor bed and the position of the windlass were modified, the chain moved to the crash chamber, freeing up a lot of space in the forepeak.

Meanwhile on deck, 4 winches (Andersen 67 and 72) located in the cockpit have been replaced, while the mast underwent a major overhaul replacement of rigging parts and was repainted. Rollers were renovated and a new mast rope organizer crafted – based on Antal equipment. The deck, sides and underwater were repainted and teak panels partially replaced in the cockpit.

Each sail underwent maintenance at Sail Service, including small repairs. In terms of rigging, some ropes were replaced and new Antal deck blocks installed. The boom spinnaker has been restored.

NASHACHATA II secured positive recognition during stability test procedures and received full documentation acknowledging eligibility to be navigated in extreme weather conditions.

With respect to safety measures, new 12x Crewsafer 290N pneumatic life jackets were purchased, as well as three new SOLAS A class Zodiak life rafts. A state-of-the-art satellite communication system Iridium LT-3100S GMDSS has been installed which meets the SOLAS A GMDSS (Sea Areas A1, A2, and A3) requirements.

For the winter of 2020/2021 and again in early 2023, the yacht was pulled out for a servicing, new B&G installation and other service work including the repainting of some interior bilge areas. NASHACHATA will be sold in code to MCA Category 0, although of course she will need to be surveyed for her new owner to maintain that coding in her new ownership. Further works completed 2024.