Challenge 72, IRONBARQUE

Broker’s Comments

IRONBARQUE is part of the Challenge 72 fleet, built for Chay Blyth’s Challenge Business to match race around the world against prevailing winds and currents and they won hearts and minds internationally not least IRONBARQUE, then badged as SAVE THE CHILDREN.

In her second ownership she took her owners with their young family far and she was de-tuned for easier sailing. After their adventure was completed, she was based in Ensenada before being bought by her current owners and prepared for an adventure in the Pacific before making sail for European waters. Works carried out included full new standing rigging.

IRONBARQUE offers massive capability for world sail training. The fleet were all build to MCA Category 0 standards and this yacht remained in class until her second owners decided that they simply didn’t need the classification for private use but she was well maintained in their ownership.
Sadly, IRONBARQUE’s current owners are not able to complete their programme with the yacht and therefore she is now being offered for sale at an attractive price.

There is a survey report available on request what was completed in September 2022.

Sales Video

Owner’s Comments

IRONBARQUE has offered an incredible experience of blue water sailing during this short period of one year in her current ownership. After almost 20,000 miles, a lot of new places and great new friends we sadly have to let IRONBARQUE find a new owner after a change of plans. She offers safety, space, and excitement for everyone when they are aboard her.

We left Ensenada/Mexico in November 2022, sailed to Costa Rica, crossed twice to the Galapagos, passed the Panama Canal, and sailed to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Martinique and Santa Lucia. We crossed the Atlantic via the Azores to Portugal. Further on, the plan was Ireland and Scotland; we crossed the Bay of Biscay twice and IRONBARQUE is overwintering in Huelva/Spain.

Since IRONBARQUE was sold by the Challenge Business she has been sailed extensively privately. The vessel underwent refit to make her more easily sailed by a small crew and great attention was paid to maintaining and building upon her safety equipment. New standing rigging was fitted as well as a complete overhaul of the engine, generator and safety equipment

Until 2022 IRONBARQUE was sailed privately with six aboard (two adults and four children). The use of crew might lift that number to eight. Since October 2022 she has been sailed with a crew of 2 or 3 and up to additional 11 invited guests. In addition to the Solas A 6 man life rafts, 2 new life rafts (10+4) were added in Oct 2022. The ship’s EPIRB has been serviced and new life jackets purchased. New matresses have been fitted in the bunks and the galley has been equipped with a whole set of appliances, kitchenware with a large refrigerator fitted in the sailroom.

Furler reefing on both her jib stays and hayracks on the boom have made sail handling easier. IRONBARQUE carries sails to permit either a blade jib and full mainsail; or a full mainsail with staysail and yankee jibs. All equipment, including the massive spinnaker and dual carbon fiber spinnaker poles, are aboard for downwind sailing, though short-handed crews will find poling out the blade jib wing to wing with the main is more manageable. For foul weather she has a storm staysail and storm trysail on a separate mast track. Powered winches have been added for halyard lifts (centre line forward) and the blade jib sheets (port and starboard aft). In addition to the three sails currently rigged (main, staysail, yankee) on board there is a spinnaker, a spare yankee in good condition and a spare mainsail which needs some repair (broken reef eye, battens and batten pockets).

The main engine, a Perkins M130C was totally rebuilt in 2015 as was the gearbox. The throttle/gear cable to the wheel control was replaced in 2016. The Northern lights generator received a new exhaust knee and injectors in 2015. The engine room has been fitted with an inert gas fire suppression system. In 2020 the engine was re-painted, and both the engine and gearbox serviced. In August 2023, in Oban, after an engine failure due to overheating the cylinder head was reworked and the gasket replaced. In addition, the whole cooling system hoses and thermostat were replaced. The engine report can be provided upon request.

2022/2023 Updates

• New standing rigging.
• Two additional life rafts.
• New mattresses for the bunks.
• New Kitchenware.
• New controls for electric winches and bow thruster.
• New cable connectors for the steering.

Introduction to Challenge 72’

The Challenge 72′ Class yachts were designed for The Challenge Business by an appointed design team, 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.

BT Global Challenge Compilation

Safety was paramount both in terms of structural strength safety for 18 crew. 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 experience of sailing around the world single handed against the prevailing winds and currents and the Challenge 67 Class. 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. For further information see below: History of Challenge 72 Yachts.