EADS DS Sponsors Mercury Challenge
The Mercury Challenge is a major British Army sailing expedition that will take place between June 2006 and June 2007 and involve more than a hundred serving members of the Royal Corps of Signals in circumnavigating the globe. EADS Astrium, EADS Defence and Security Systems and Paradigm Secure Communications are the co-sponsors of the Royal Signals in this challenge. In addition to supporting the expedition financially, EADS is providing communications links that will enable the yacht to stay in daily contact with expedition planners throughout the circumnavigation.
The expedition will make use of a Challenge 67 yacht and will involve nine changes of the 14 strong crew in the course of the yacht’s 33,000 nautical mile journey. Along the way the yacht will also take part in some of the world’s best known yachting events including the The Sydney to Hobart Race and Antigua Race Week.
The expedition will launch on 29th June from Gosport and follow an easterly route with the yacht visiting some of the world’s most spectacular ports (Las Palmas, Rio De Janeiro, Cape Town, Perth, Sydney, Hobart, Wellington, Buenos Aires and Antigua) as well rounding both the Cape of Good Hope and the notorious Cape Horn. The trip will take approximately 11 months to complete and will be divided into 10 legs completing the circumnavigation in Portsmouth in June 2007.
For details of the route, outline timings and further information please go to: www.mercurychallenge.mod.uk