Challenge Business has announced that, due to the success of the inaugural race, it intends to run the Round Britain Challenge again.

“We have been taken aback by the fantastic response to this event and inundated by requests to run it again,” said Simon Walker, Managing Director of Challenge Business. Challenge Business is currently investigating ways in which the event can be run this year given that each Crew Volunteer undertakes a rigorous training programme prior to reaching the start line. “The format clearly appeals to a wide group of people looking for an incredible personal challenge that can be achieved within a reasonable time frame,” he explained.

The format would be similar, with each yacht carrying a professional skipper and mate accompanied by 16 crew, made up of men and women from all walks of life, racing non-stop around the coastline of Britain and Ireland. The current race is reaching its climax with the fleet less than 100 miles from the finish line off Cowes. The first six yachts are separated by less than 35 miles and with the winds shifting and the tidal gates still to contend with over the final stretch, it is still anyone’s race.

Currently the fight is on between Spirit of Southampton and LogicaCMG, who have been swapping between first and second place for the past few hours.

Current positions

Spirit of Southampton (1) DTF (distance to finish) 99

LogicaCMG (2) DTF 100

The Daily Telegraph (3) DTF 108

BG Group (4) DTF 122

Basilica (5) DTF 127

Spirit Of Hong Kong (6) DTF 130

Vail Williams (7) DTF 140

Team Spirit (8) DTF 149