Atlantic Challenge Great Britain

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 2028 the Contest will be in Bantry, Ireland.

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.
In late 2026, details of the 2028 International Contest of Seamanship will be available and we will be recruiting young people for the crew to represent Great Britain. If you would like to receive more information at that time, please complete this Expression of Interest form and we will keep in touch with you.

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.