Challenge Business today announced that next year’s Round Britain and Ireland Challenge in association with the Daily Telegraph will be raced on the newly refitted Global Challenge 72ft Race Fleet.

The yachts will be skippered by the Global Challenge Race Skippers (announced next week) assisted by a professional first mate.

Last year’s race, held at Easter, was oversubscribed and even crew who competed on the race have signed up again. The change therefore is being designed to enable many more people to take part, as all 12 yachts will compete.

Entering the whole Global Challenge fleet will also ensure that all the yachts will have sailed equal miles with their new sails and equipment prior to the start of the Global Challenge.

In order to accommodate all of the fleet in the race the dates of the event have been moved forward. The Race fleet will leave Ocean Village, Southampton on Saturday 30 May and will return approximately 12 days later. The prize giving for the event, again in Ocean Village, will be on 12 June.