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The Challenge was born on the west side of the Atlantic at a North Carolina
small craft conference where the idea of an international contest between
traditional one-class craft arose. Founder Lance Lee was strongly influenced
by the ideas of the educator Kurt Hahn who had referred to the sea as ‘my
sternest schoolmaster’. Elegant 38ft admiral's gigs were chosen for their
grace, speed and simplicity. Two boats, Liberté and Egalité,
were built at the traditional wooden boat apprentice shop at Rockport, Maine.
Egalité was presented to France for the first contest. This first
contest took place in 1986 in New York harbour between the United States and
France on the occasion of the refurbishment of the Statue of Liberty.
Subsequent contests have taken place every two years between member nations
on the two sides of the Atlantic. Today there are thirteen member nations of
Atlantic Challenge that take part in the biennial Contest of
Seamanship:- Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Holland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Russia, and United States.
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