Ever fancied racing round the world in your own boat in similar spirit to the original Whitbread Round the World Race? Here’s your chance. Launched yesterday by Challenge Business at the Schroders London Boat Show, the Corinthian Challenge 2006 is a global yacht race inspired by Chay Blyth’s participation in the original 1974 Whitbread race.

Blyth, who was at the launch yesterday said: “What we’re doing here is trying to go back in time. We have a huge number of round the world yacht races but none where a private owner can take part in Corinthian style. What we’re looking for is, for example, the local garage owner who’d love to go and do this thing on his own, naming the boat after his garage and setting it up as a marketing tool. This is the sort of entry we’re expecting.”

But for £30,000 entry fee, what is the likelihood of attracting a big entry? Blyth says it’s difficult to predict right now but it is starting to get a bit of momentum. Blyth continued: “In the first race of the Whitbread there was something like 28 entries and we got an international entry but I would say we’re looking an entry of 15 upwards. If we don’t get that, there’ll be no race.”

Scheduled for a September 17, 2006 start from the UK, from the Solent, the Corinthian Challenge will take the fleet on an east-about course round the world taking in six possible stops in the Canaries, South Africa, Western Australia, New Zealand, South America, the Caribbean and a possible stop in France. Details of the exact ports will be announced on 30 September this year. Entry is open to all mono-hull sailing yachts with a 2003 IRC TCC Rating between 1.140 and 1.450 and a minimum loa of 58ft (17.7m).

For more details contact Challenge Business at worldcruising.com/corinthian.