City Sailing Greater Manchester Challenge Francis Drake unseen Helicopter Shots 1992

Ocean Youth Club vessels Greater Manchester Challenge and Francis Drake after the 1992 Tall Ships Races. Both sail training vessels had crossed the Atlantic as part of the Grand Regatta Columbus with the Ocean Youth Club, now Ocean Youth Trust. Skippers Julia Fernside and Paul Bew skippered the vessels from Liverpool to Liverpool via Lisbon, Gran Canaria, Porta Rico, New York and Boston. The Greater Manchester Challenge won her class on the final Boston to Liverpool leg and was part of the BBC film the 'Last Great Adventure'.

[@carlsimpson1513]

Good to see the old girl i was an 18 year old apprentice i helped with plans on the build in the loft shed mid 1980s.

[@nuntiusuk3345]

I sailed the GMC. I’m saddened to hear she is now a deteriorating hill in some boatyard down south 😢

[@CitySailing]

Sad to say yes, I have lost touch with her.

[@JulieLloyd-g5k]

Great memories I sailed on leg 1 of the race can’t believe it was over 30 years ago.

[@CitySailing]

I was very young!!!!!!

[@magickalme9169]

Sailed on Samuel whitbread 1987 Copenhagen to Chatham best time of my life 😎👍🏻I was in my mid teens I’m 55 now and will never forget

[@CitySailing]

Did you have Baz as your mate, was Ron the skipper?

[@magickalme9169]

Can’t remember the names but was a leg back to Chatham from the tall ships race of that year but I can say a storm in the North Sea was a testament to the skill of the skipper and mates onboard

[@mrwilks4827]

I sailed on this vessel on my 15th birthday 30 years ago on sep 4th

[@CitySailing]

We broke the gaff not the bowsprit! and mended it on the way, it also passed survey after! Good old Tommy.

[@graemejwsmith]

Ha Ha - was that before you broke the bowsprit?