During the autumn of 1998, an Atlantic Challenge Technical committee listed some proposed requirements for all Atlantic Challenge gigs for future international contests.
Committee Members were Lee Scarbrough – USA, Chairman, Matt Murphy - Ireland, John Kerr - UK, Søren Nielsen - Denmark,
The Trustees all agreed in Denmark during 1998 that there is a strong need for some basic rules and guidelines to establish standardization within the growing fleet of Atlantic Challenge gigs. Although it is frequently a challenge to find 100% satisfaction to any proposed changes, during the September 1999 Trustees meeting in France the following specifications were approved and shall apply to all Atlantic Challenge gigs entering international competition.
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C onstruction:
Builders shall follow the official Atlantic Challenge plans and revisions by the Trustees as approved at time of construction. Overall dimensions of the vessel and its lines and construction shall follow as closely as possible the official Atlantic Challenge plans and sketches, to keep intact the spirit of the original boat. Slight modifications from the plans made in the interest of strength will be allowed, but changes to the plans made in the interest of speed (changes to hull lines, longer hull, cold molded hull, lighter materials, etc.), are prohibited. All hulls shall be carvel planked with the top two strakes lapped. Frames may be sawn from solid lumber (encouraged – since the original boat was of this method), steam bent or laminated. Additional cleats, belaying pins, metal fittings, and lightweight modern hardware of various types, though not expressly prohibited, are discouraged, as they detract from the simplicity of the original boat.
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Rig
The rig is to consist of a dipping lug foresail of no more than 163 square feet (15.14 square meters), a dipping lug mainsail of no more than 208 square feet (19.32 square meters), and a lug or sprit rigged mizzen of no more than 54 square feet (5.02 square meters). All sails are to have only one halyard and one sheet. Except for the halyards, the masts are otherwise unstayed.
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S ails
Sailcloth is be no lighter than the equivalent of 6 oz. Dacron. Molded (Mylar) sails are not allowed. All sails must be vertically cut. Natural fiber sailcloth (as would have originally have been used), hand sewn bolt ropes, and other hand work is highly encouraged. Modern materials which have natural characteristics are encouraged. Dacron is permitted but not encouraged. Mylar, Kevlar, carbon, spectra and similar materials are not permitted. Sailcloth is to be no lighter than the equivalent of 6 oz canvas or 6 oz Dacron.
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Oars
Oars shall be constructed of wood. The maximum width of the oar blade is to be 5 3/4 inches (146mm.). The maximum length of the blade is 68 inches (1727mm.). Tapered blades (narrower at the inboard end) are highly encouraged. Spoon shaped blades and hollow shafts are not allowed. Suggested woods: Sitka Spruce, American Ash, Russian White Spruce, Norwegian Pine, and Hemlock.
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Rudder
The maximum width of the rudder is 20 1/2 inches (521mm.)
Kurt Hahn
Kurt Hahn (1886-1974) is increasingly mentioned as the foremost educator of the 20th century. Deeply grounded in the classics at Heidelberg and Oxford, Hahn backed the sons and daughters of Scottish crofters and fishermen, walked with kings, was imprisoned by Hitler for his condemnation of Nazi atrocities in the streets of Potempa in 1932 (Hahn was a Jew), and then extradited by the Prime Minister of Great Britain. He served the Allied seamen in the Battle of the Atlantic in WWII (establishing the Outward Bound School at Aberdovey, with Lawrence Holt of the Blue Funnel Line to build up tenacity and self reliance among merchant marine seaman).
Hahn's contributions to world-wide education include: Establishment of Salem (Germany) and Gordonstoun (Scotland) Schools, the Atlantic Colleges; the Outward Bound Schools (28 in Europe and the British Isles, Africa, Asia, North America and Australia); the Duke of Edinburgh Award Schemes, conceiver of the Sail Training Association (Britain), and countless adaptive programs of which the Apprenticeshops and Atlantic Challenge are two. It was Hahn's insight into the value of such experiential means as the project, the rescue, the expedition and craftsmanship which led him to urge that such endeavors release learning both for and through demanding practices. While a close friend of scholarship, he recognized the loss of vitality of youth in our so information-bound era and called for "a sterner exercise of the thinking faculty". "It is a sin of the soul to coerce the young into opinions," he said, "nonetheless I consider it culpable neglect not to impel every youth into life-giving experiences".
We regard Hahn's finest hour as that post-war turning point in which public tide turned against what looked to be training for toughness and called for the dissolution of Outward Bound. Hahn rose and cried out for their retention noting that in the great task of rebuilding Europe, restoration of the buildings and cathedrals would be facile, of the economy almost as much so, but that the critical issue lay in trust-building. He urged that the youth of Germany and the former allies be sent to sea in the same vessels, large and small, with common purpose, struggle and leadership. He saw this plan realized, in the post Cold War years, with the purchase of the Tall Ships PAMIR and PASSAT for youth training of mixed nationality crews. Atlantic Challenge, drawing directly on Hahn's example, sends the youth of an increasing number of countries to sea together, in craft once naval, now ambassadorial.
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