Chay Blyth

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Sir Charles Blyth, CBE, BEM (b. 14 May 1940), known as Chay Blyth, is a Scottish yachtsman and rower. He was the first person to sail non-stop westwards around the world (1971) on a 59-foot boat called British Steel.

1 Biography
2 Achievements and accolades
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Blyth was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire. He joined the British Army Parachute Regiment when he was 18 and rose quickly through the ranks to become a Sergeant at the age of 21.

[edit] Rowing and sailing career

In 1966, whilst in the Army, Blyth, together with Captain John Ridgway, rowed across the North Atlantic in a 20ft open dory called English Rose III. After successfully completing this in 92 days Blyth was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM).

In 1968, with no sailing experience, he competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, aboard a 30ft yacht called Dytiscus retiring just past the Cape of Good Hope.

In 1971 Blyth became the first person to sail non-stop westwards around the world, aboard the yacht British Steel, taking 292 days, and as a result was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

In 1973, Blyth skippered a crew of paratroopers in the yacht Great Britain II, which took line honours in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, and in 1978 won the Round Britain Race in the yacht Great Britain IV.

He was co-skipper with Richard Branson on Virgin Atlantic Challenger I and Virgin Atlantic Challenger II in 1985 and 1986 respectively, before founding the Challenge Business to organise the 1992/1993 British Steel Challenge in 1989. This event allowed ordinary people to sail around the world in a professionally organised race.

The British Steel Challenge was followed by two successive BT Global Challenge races in 1996/7 and 2000/2001. However, a downturn in the sponsorship market meant that the 2004/2005 Global Challenge race set off without a title sponsor.

In 1997, Blyth was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to sailing.

[edit] Business career

Sir Chay started the company Challenge Business (full name The Challenge Business International Limited) to operate the Global Challenge Round the World yacht races. The Chartered Institute of Marketing awarded The Companion of Honour to Sir Chay in 2000 for his services to the Profession of Marketing.

Sir Chay is chairman of Inspiring Performance. He also heads the Board of Directors at train company First Great Western - Greater Western franchise. He is Non Executive Chairman of the franchise which was formed to run the new and enlarged franchise from April 1 2006. The franchise combines the previous First Great Western, First Great Western Link and Wessex Trains franchises.

As chairman of Challenge Business, he was the mentor for Dee Caffari on her successful bid to be the first woman to sail around the world against the prevailing winds and currents in 2005/6.

On 6th October 2006, Challenge Business went into administration. Failure to secure a title sponsor for the 2008 Global Challenge race was cited as the principal reason for the demise. The business is up for sale as a going concern by the administrators Grant Thornton.

[edit] Achievements and accolades

The first person to sail non-stop westwards around the world (1971)
A street has been named after him in his birth town of Hawick. It is known as "Chay Blyth Place".