The ports of call for the 2004/05 Global Challenge were announced yesterday by organisers of the race, Challenge Business.

The fleet of 12 identical 72ft race yachts, each carrying 17 crew volunteers and one professional skipper, will set sail from Portsmouth, UK at the beginning of October 2004 for the start of the 30,000-mile race. News of the 12 selected skippers will be announced on yachtingworld.com on 12 November.

Race timetable and ports of call

Leg 1 starts 3rd October 2004 – Portsmouth to Buenos Aires (31 – 35 days at sea predicted, covering 6200 nmiles)

Leg 2 starts 28th November 2004 – Buenos Aires to Wellington (36 – 41 days at sea predicted, covering 6100 nmiles)

Leg 3 starts 6th February 2005 – Wellington to Sydney (7 days at sea predicted, covering 1250 nmiles)

Leg 4 starts 27th February 2005 – Sydney to Cape Town (35 – 41 days at sea predicted, covering 6200 nmiles)

Leg 5 starts 1st May 2005 – Cape Town to Boston (34 – 38 days at sea predicted, covering 6775 nmiles)

Leg 6 starts 19th June 2005 – Boston to northern European city (13 – 17 days at sea predicted, covering 3000 nmiles)

Leg 7 starts 12th July 2005 – northern European city (4 days at sea predicted, 300 nmiles)