12 identical 72ft ocean racing yachts sail from the UK, ready not just to survive those conditions, but to race through them. Each yacht will be crewed by 17 ordinary men and women led by a professional skipper. Most will want to be in the team that wins the Princess Royal Trophy but every single crew member will be setting out to push themselves to the limit and to have the adventure of their lives.

It’s tough because they race ‘the wrong way’ around the world - against the prevailing winds and currents. Conditions will range from the calms and energy-sapping heat of the doldrums to the icebergs, storms and monumental seas of the southern oceans.

Global Challenge is more than just a yacht race. It brings together the business community, a major charity – Save the Children, the media and tens of thousands of supporters as well as the crews.

Over 120 organisations participate in the event through sponsorships and partnerships.
Spectators from around the world visit the ports of call and track the event on the race website and through coverage in the world's media. In the first half of the Global Challenge 2004/05 the race website had 24 million page views.