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 Beyond Horizons 

 By Elouise Sylke Pemberton 
 Chasing dreams, one Challenge 72 yacht at a time! 

Elouise at the helm

About Me

Hello fellow adventurers! I'm Elouise, the voice behind Beyond Horizons.

As an avid sailor and explorer, I've discovered that the sea can shape and transform us. Through my blog, I share the tales of my sailing adventures, the lessons learned, and the personal growth experienced along the way.

I have a bucket list to sail aboard as many of the Challenge 72 fleet as I possibly can. There were 13 built, 12 now in operation, and so far I have sailed six of them! I'm not sure how this will go, but I'm having lots of fun along the way.

Join me as I embark on a voyage of inspiration, self-discovery, and the relentless pursuit of horizons beyond my wildest dreams.

Voyage Log

For those who love statistics, here are some facts & figures from my RYA logbook!

68

Days at Sea

3851

Tidal Miles

135

Night Hours

6/12

Challenge 72 Yachts

5

Countries

11

Max Wind Force
(Gusting 12)

Where I’ve Been

🗺️ Countries Visited:

🇵🇹  Portugal
🇬🇧  United Kingdom
🇳🇴  Norway
🇪🇸  Spain
🇳🇱  Netherlands

🌊 Oceans & Seas Sailed:

⛵︎ North Atlantic Ocean
⛵︎ Bristol Channel
⛵︎ Celtic Sea
⛵︎ North Sea
⛵︎ Canarias Sea

About the 
Challenge 72 Fleet

The Who, What, and Why

The Challenge 72 yachts, designed by Humphreys Yacht Design, were purpose-built for the legendary BT Global Challenge—a race dubbed "The World’s Toughest Yacht Race". Ten were built in the UK by Devonport Yachts, with two more constructed in China. Unique for taking the westabout route—against prevailing winds and currents—the race tested crews to their limits and left a legacy of bold, bluewater adventure.

Despite its reputation, the race ended in 2006 after losing its title sponsor, and the fleet was sold off.

Life After the Race

Today, these yachts are still going strong. Reimagined for new roles—from youth development and sail training to expedition charters and private adventures—the Challenge 72s continue to inspire, educate, and connect people with the sea.

Why I Sail Them

My own love for these vessels began with Tall Ships Youth Trust voyages. The teamwork, the thrill, the open ocean—it lit a spark that’s never faded.

Now, I’m on a mission to sail aboard as many Challenge 72s as I can—sharing their story, celebrating their legacy, and encouraging others to chase the horizon.

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Current Status of the Challenge 72 Fleet*
Hull No. Current Name Owner / Operator Primary Use / Status Sailed?
CB 36 CatZero CatZero (Hull) Sail-training & youth development ✔
CB 37 SV Sea Dragon Pangaea Exploration Science & adventure charters  
CB 38 Challenger 1 / “Oona” Tall Ships Youth Trust Youth & adult sail-training ✔
CB 39 Challenger 2 / “William PG” Tall Ships Youth Trust Youth & adult sail-training ✔
CB 40 HMSTC Adventure UK MoD (JSASTC) Military sail-training  
CB 41 Alba Explorer Ocean Youth Trust Scotland Sail-training & youth work  
CB 42 Challenger 4 / “Margherita” Tall Ships Youth Trust Sail-training ✔
CB 43 HMSTC Discoverer UK MoD (JSASTC) Military sail-training  
CB 44 La Jolla Private owner (Germany) Private cruising yacht  
CB 45 Big Spirit Private ownership Damaged; occasionally listed for sale  
CB 46 Challenger 3 / “Sarah” Tall Ships Youth Trust Sail-training ✔
CB 47 Challenge Wales Challenge Wales / Her Cymru Sail-training for 12–25-year-olds ✔
CB 48 Ironbarque OM Adventures Expedition charters; for sale  

*Some of the information about the Challenge 72 vessels may be incorrect, I had to do some digging to find out about them.

If you have any further information about any of the fleet I'd love to hear from you!

Latest Posts

Get ready to set sail on a journey of growth, and discovery.

My Sailing Log - SailTies

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