Why the ATLANTIC CHALLENGE

The Atlantic Challenge is so called because it originated in a challenge between the United States and France in 1986 when a boat from each nation competed in a race off the Statue of Liberty. The craft selected were copied from the only surviving historic gig. This French vessel, now in the National Maritime Museum of the Irish Republic, was captured near Bantry in 1796 as the French attempted to invade UK via Ireland and Pembrokeshire.

The movement now has members drawn from 30 nations, 12 of which posses their own gigs (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, the UK and the USA). They meet biennially for a friendly contest of seamanship. The last regatta in July 2004 was the first to be held in the United Kingdom, at Fishguard, and was the first to be won by the British crew. The next international contest is to be held in July 2006 in Italy (Genoa).

The United Kingdom has one National gig, ‘Integrite’, but regional centres which have their own craft  are in Scotland (Moray), Northern Ireland (Antrim) and Wales (Pembrokeshire).

THE BENEFiTS

The International Atlantic Challenge movement continues to provide opportunities for young people, but in a local, affordable manner, by using inshore, open boats, which are much, more flexible in how they can be used. The advantages are:

• Cost. It costs over £100 per day for a young person to sail on a tall ship. The inshore gig costs less than £5 per day.

• Community. As community boats, the social benefits of local ownership and responsibility apply to all participants. The maintenance and administration requirements as well as actual operation, help develop this socially inclusive ethos. Major tall ships, on the other hand, are obliged to function largely as charter vessels.

• Seamanship Training. Traditional seamanship training, and hence the development of teamwork, is far more immediate and relevant as it is impossible for a young trainee to readily appreciate the complexity of sailing a major  tall ship.

• Shipwright Training. The simple, wooden construction of the replica gigs makes them ideal for shipwright training, an aspect not available with tall ships.

• Non-discriminatory. It is well established that maritime activity is an effective leveler of social and economic differences. Gig sailing in particular is extremely inclusive and avoids patronising and invidious comparisons that can otherwise arise.                                                    
See   Atlantic Challenge International