Chay Blyth

Background

Blyth was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire.

Career

He was the first person to sail single-handed non-stop westwards around the world (1971), on a 59-foot boat called British Steel. He joined the British Army Parachute Regiment when he was 18 and was promoted to Sergeant at the age of 21. In 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. In 1968, with no sailing experience, he competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, aboard a 30 ft 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 (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).

Came second again in the Round the Island Race (IoW). 1982 – Came second overall and first in class in The Round Britain and Ireland Race on “Brittany Ferries Great Britain”.

1984 – Capsized off Cape Horn aboard the trimaran “Beefeater II” whilst attempting the New York – San Francisco record attempt with Eric Blunn. Rescued by passing fishing boat after 19 hours in the water.

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 novices to sail around the world in a professionally organised race. The British Steel Challenge was followed by two successive British Telecom 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.

Sir Chay started the company Challenge Business, to operate the Global Challenge Round the World yacht 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 2005/6.

Achievements

• In 1997, Blyth was created a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to sailing. A street has been named after him in his birth town of Hawick. lieutenant is known as "Chay Blyth Place". 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.