International Contests of Seamanship
Atlantic Challenge is an international organisation dedicated to the teaching and education of young people through the challenge of the sea.
Every two years, teams representing the countries of Atlantic Challenge International – Belgium, Basque Country, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Quebec and USA – meet to compete in a week-long friendly Contest of Seamanship. In 2026 the Contest will be in Roskilde, Denmark.
Join the Crew
If you are aged 16 or over, with a spirit of adventure, you can apply for a place in the crew. You will experience many new and unique challenges representing your country at this International Contest. You will enjoy learning how to handle the gig and we will teach you ropework, navigation and how to perform traditional manoeuvres under oars and sail. Atlantic Challenge gigs cast a spell over all who sail in them – their long waterline length of 38 feet, means astonishing speeds can be gained both under sail or oar.
Full details are in our Crew Information Pack. If you wish to apply, please complete the Crew Application Form and email to atlanticchallengegb@gmail.com.
Applications are now open for Crew to take part in the International Contest of Seamanship in Roskilde, Denmark in July 2026.
You will experience many new and unique challenges representing your country at this International Contest. So if the information below sounds like something you would like to do, get your application form in!
Closing date: 31 March, 2025.
GB Success at Atlantic Challenge 2018
The last Atlantic Challenge before the global pandemic took place in Antrim, Northern Ireland in 2018, where our crew of young people from across Great Britain took part in a very successful Atlantic Challenge. Following a period of ten days pre-contest training at Portland, Dorset, the crew finished first in three Oars and Sails races and two sailing races. Their hard work was also rewarded in winning the Rowing race for the first time in our history of Atlantic Challenge. All this meant that they finished in second place overall behind an excellent crew from the host country, Northern Ireland. A short film by our crew, about their own journey from first training session through to the last race of the contest is below.
More information, pictures and video on the 2018, and previous contests can be found in our archive pages. Our latest newsletter, with a full report from Antrim can be downloaded here.
Atlantic Challenge Great Britain 