Chay Blyth

Sir Charles Blyth CBE BEM (born 14 May 1940[1]), known as Chay Blyth, is a Scottish yachtsman and rower. He was the first person to sail single-handed non-stop westwards around the world (1971), on a 59-foot boat called British Steel.

Sir Charles Blyth

CBE BEM
Born (1940-05-14) 14 May 1940
OccupationSailor
Known forFirst person to sail single-handed non-stop westwards around the world
Cruise boat Chay Blyth on the Thames in front of Vintners' Place.

Early life

Blyth was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire. He joined the British Army Parachute Regiment when he was 18 and was promoted to Sergeant at the age of 21.

Rowing and sailing career
Year
1966 Whilst in the army, Blyth, together with Captain John Ridgway, rowed across the North Atlantic in a 20 ft open dory called English Rose III. After successfully completing this in 92 days, Blyth was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM).
1968 With no sailing experience, he competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, aboard a 30 ft yacht called Dytiscus. He retired from the race just past the Cape of Good Hope. Author Peter Nichols wrote that, "Few people leaving a dock for an afternoon sail in a dinghy have cast off with less experience than Chay Blyth had when he set sail alone around the world".[2]
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 Order of the British Empire (CBE).
1973 Blyth skippered a crew of paratroopers in the yacht Great Britain II, which took line honours in the 3rd stage of the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.
1978 He won the Round Britain Race in the yacht Great Britain IV.
1981 Entered the Whitbread race again in the yacht "United Friendly" and was the first British yacht to finish.
1981 On the yacht “Brittany Ferries GB” he won the Two-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race with co-skipper Rob James in record time.
1981 Came second again in the Round the Island Race (Isle of Wight).
1982 Came second overall and first in class in the Round Britain and Ireland Race on “Brittany Ferries GB”.
1984 Capsized off Cape Horn aboard the trimaran “Beefeater II” whilst attempting to break the New York – San Francisco record with Eric Blunn. Rescued by passing fishing boat after 19 hours in the water.
1985 Co-skipper with Richard Branson on Virgin Atlantic Challenger I
1986 Co-skipper with Richard Branson on Virgin Atlantic Challenger II

Later he founded the Challenge Business to organise the 1992/1993 British Steel Challenge in 1989. This event allowed novices to sail around the world in a professionally organised race. In September 2007, Challenge Business went into administration after Sir Chay was unable to find a sponsor for the 2008-09 Global Challenge Race. [3]

The British Steel Challenge was followed by two successive BT Global Challenge races in 1996/97 and 2000/01. However, a downturn in the sponsorship market meant that the 2004/2005 Global Challenge race set off without a title sponsor.

Business career

Sir Chay started the company Challenge Business, to operate first the British Steel Challenge 1992—93 and then the Global Challenge Round the World yacht races. The success of the British Steel Challenge carved the way for the future success of the Global Challenge races.

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 1 April 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 2005–2006.

Awards and accolades
  • In 1997, Blyth was created a Knight Bachelor for services to sailing.
  • A street has been named after him in his birth town of Hawick. It is known as "Chay Blyth Place".
  • 3rd Worthing Scout Groups Blyth Cub Pack is named after him.
  • Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Technology from Plymouth University in 1994.
  • The Chartered Institute of Marketing awarded The Companion of Honour to Sir Chay in 2000 for his services to the Profession of Marketing.
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References
  1. "Birthdays today". The Telegraph. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2014. Sir Chay Blyth, round–the–world yachtsman, 73
  2. Nichols, Peter (2001). A Voyage for Madmen. Harper Collins. p. 56. ISBN 0 7322 7592 X.
  3. Monthly, Yachting (21 April 2008). "End of an era". Yachting Monthly. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
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