JULY 21-29
Atlantic Challenge 2012 The Atlantic Challenge 2012- Bantry Bay Gig World Championships is a spectacular display of seamanship Atlantic Challenge is an International organisation that uses Bantry Bay Gigs to promote traditional seamanship skills and forge friendships between different nations. There are affiliated groups on both sides of the Atlantic and as far away as Indonesia. All these groups have built a Bantry Bay longboat and train crews in maritime skills. The organisation holds the Atlantic Challenge contest, every two years to test crews from all over the world in these skills. The challenge has been hosted by member countries on both sides of the Atlantic since it’s inception in 1986. In 2012, Bantry will host the competition for the second time. The boats used are replicas of a ships longboat, left behind by the frigate, Resoloue in 1796 and there are over 70 built worldwide. After spending the early Summer months in training, sixteen international crews, involving over 300 competitors, will take part in a week long competition using replica’s of the ‘Bantry Bay Longboat’. These elegant craft, when raced under sail and oar, provide a unique spectacle matched only by the stunning backdrop that is Bantry Bay. During the week the teams will go head to head in 10 events, displaying their abilities both on and off the water all to win this coveted trophy.
previous hosts 1986 - NewYork, USA 1988 - Douarnenez, France 1990 - Roskilde, Denmark 1992 - Brest, France 1994 - Midland, Ontario, Canada 1996 - Bantry, Ireland 1998 - Roskilde, Denmark 2000 - Douarnenez, France 2002 - Rockland, Maine, USA 2004 - Goodwick, Wales 2006 - Genova, Italy 2008 - Jacobstad, Finland 2010 - Midland, Ontario, Canada 2012 - Bantry, Ireland
competing nations Basque Country Belgium Denmark Canada Finland France Holland Indonesia International
Ireland Italy Northern Ireland Norway Russia United Kingdom USA Wales
the boats
The boats measure almost 40ft (13m), hold 13 crew on board and can be raced under sail & under oar Under Oar - 13 crew members are needed to row the boat. Ten oarsmen. 1 Coxswain. 2 Bowmen. Oar lengths measure up to 6m(18ft) Under sail - 13 crew members are needed to sail the boat The boats use 3 sails. Main-sail, Fore-sail and a Mizen sail used to assist with steering
Bringing History Home Atlantic Challenge was initiated in 1986, conceived by Lance Lee (USA) and Bernard Cadoret (France), when two gigs from USA and France competed under oars & sails against a backdrop of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbour. Since then, Atlantic Challenge has grown to involve 16 competing countries, and over 70 ‘Bantry Bay Gigs’ have been built worldwide. Irish involvement began in 1987 when Hal Sisk, curator of the Irish Maritime museum was asked to form a crew to participate in 1988 Atlantic Challenge. Appropriately enough, he contacted Bantry Rowing club who took a crew made up of rowing club and sailing club members to Douarnenez in France and competed using a borrowed boat. In 1990, with the help of Bantry Armada Centre, the group had a boat built by Billy Andy O’Driscoill called Unité. It has represented Ireland at every Atlantic Challenges since. Ireland have won the Challenge on four occasions. These elegant, exhilarating vessels can be rowed at 7 knots in calm water, and have a top speed of over 15 knots under sail. The fascinating history of these Longboats and the stories played out by their modern day crews offers a spectacular insight into the history of seafaring. Atlantic Challenge 2012 will deliver a dramatic event in the place which has provided it’s reason for being and is proud to support and protect it’s heritage and future history – Bantry Bay.
Clockwise from top; Sailing Race in Rockland Maine, 2002. Competition gigs moored in Genova, 2006. Coming ashore in Jacobstad, Finland 2008. Start line or rowing race, Genova, 2006.
Bringing History Home Let us take you on a journey from where it all began and talk to you about AN EVENT STEEPED IN HISTORY… but where did it all start? In December 1796 a French Armada of 48 ships and 13,000 troops under the command of General Hoche and direction of Wolfe Tone, failed to land in Bantry due to adverse weather conditions. Most of the Fleet returned to France but a ships longboat(gig) and her crew were washed ashore and captured on Bere Island. They were quickly apprehended by yeomanry loyal to the crown, and under the command of Richard White of Bantry House who later received an earldom for services to the crown. The ‘Bantry Bay Longboat’ as she is now known, was brought to the boathouse at Bantry House, where she lay for 150 years. In 1944 she was presented to the National Museum of Ireland and was subsequently transferred to the Maritime Museum in 1974. The original longboat, the oldest surviving vessel in the French Navy, is now on exhibit in Collins Barracks museum, Dublin, where Wolfe Tone himself was once imprisoned. The lines used by Atlantic Challenge International to replicate these vessels were taken from the original gig.
Images of the original Bantry Bay longboat (above) in Bere Island c. 1944 and in her new home (far right) in The National Museum of Ireland in Collins Barracks
Looking to the future Atlantic Challenge 2012 THE CHALLENGERS MISSION‌
the challengers mission International Crews with a total of 20 in each, are made up of young and old, including at least 4 male or 4 female crew members. Half the crew must be under the age of 21. The number of participating nations is ever growing, some nations have more established crews than others. Ireland, France, Denmark, Canada & USA have been involved for over 20 years. Indonesia is Atlantic Challenge’s newest member, competing in Ontario, Canada for the first time in 2010. Crew selection for each competing country differs from nation to nation. Some crews are made up of existing clubs, such as Ireland’s, which is made up of members of Bantry Rowing and Sailing clubs so all the members are familiar with each other. Canada’s crew is from an open national selection policy and comes together one month prior to the event, for a month long intensive training camp The Danish crew is made up of members from Roskilde rowing club. Other nations may have crew members who have never been in a boat. For them the contest will be a completely new experience and learning to sail a 40ft longboat will be an achievement in itself. Teams will begin training for the event in early April/May weather permitting. Member nations will give full co-operation to film crews and accommodate filming to the best of their abilities. In competition years the boats are shipped by land/sea/air depending on where the event is being held. This can effect the amount of training a crew can fit in as sometimes the boats are shipped by freighter.
Competitors at dock post rowing race, Jacobstad, Finland 2008
Crews will be arriving in Bantry Bay up to 2 weeks prior to the event to get familiar with the local waters and weather conditions. They will be residing in neighbouring coastal towns up until the beginning of the event itself when all crews will be staying together in local group accommodation.
media opportunity Perspectives History & Heritage: – Nationwide relevance and interest – Educational – Compelling Story International Community v’s Local Community – 16 International Crews – 1 Local Community totally behind this Event Competition – Everyone is out to Win – Access to training sessions – Inside angles on Teams – Large spectator crowds Bantry House & Gardens overlooking Bantry Bay
Specialised Sporting Community