Volvo Sailors Lead Celebs in BT Sport Relief Challenge

Six British celebrities will join race sailors as they take to a Volvo Ocean Race boat and attempt to sail around the United Kingdom in the BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas.

The TV celebrities will swap the luxuries of dry land for a taste of life at the extreme as they take to a Volvo Ocean Race boat and attempt to sail around the United Kingdom.

The challenge, which begins on Monday, March 7, will see BBC The One Show presenter Alex Jones, fellow BBC presenters Angellica Bell and Ore Oduba, Formula 1 host Suzi Perry, stand-up comedian Hal Cruttenden and comedy actress Doon Mackichan jump onboard the Volvo Ocean 65 boat for the ultimate offshore challenge.

The challenge departs from Belfast, Northern Ireland on Monday, March 7, and will include the crew living, eating and sleeping (if they can), as well as actually sailing the high-tech Volvo Ocean Race boat as they attempt to sail around the coast of mainland UK, to arrive in London five days later on Friday, March 11.

With mountainous seas and freezing cold temperatures, the voyage promises to be physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting for the celebrities, many of whom have never set foot on a racing boat before – but luckily for them, they have some experienced heads to call upon.

Briton Ian Walker, the last winner of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2014-15 as skipper and a double Olympic silver medallist, will lead the crew during the challenge.

He will be joined by an experienced team of Volvo Ocean Race veterans; his Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crewmate Phil Harmer, Team SCA’s Dee Caffari and Sara Hastreiter, Dongfeng Race Team’s Graham Tourell and Volvo Ocean Race meteorologist Gonzalo Infante.

Walker, the first British skipper to win the Volvo Ocean Race, said, “It will be the second week of March and the sea and air temperature for this BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas will be as cold as anything we faced in the Southern Ocean during the last Volvo Ocean Race.

“When the sea is rough, you haven’t slept for days and you are drenched to the core even simple tasks like brushing your teeth can seem impossible. This will be a tough challenge for the seasoned sailors let alone our celebrities. It could well be a true Hell on the High Seas."

At just 65 feet long, life onboard the boat - a racing machine designed purely for speed, durability and performance, with absolutely no creature comforts whatsoever - will be cramped and uncomfortable. 

Out on the ocean, there’s nowhere to hide – and no excuses. The six celebrities will help to run all aspects of the boat, from hoisting and trimming the sails, to helming and keeping watch.

Sailors generally operate in four-hour watch shifts – that means that they will spend four hours on deck, and then get four hours to sleep or relax. Unless there is a sail change to be performed. Then, it’s all hands on deck.

And they will be fuelled the Volvo Ocean Race way – with vacuum-packed, freeze-dried food providing them with around 6,000 calories per day.

The money raised from the BT Sport Relief Challenge: Hell on High Seas will help transform the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people both at home in the UK and across the world’s poorest communities.

Launched in 2007, The One Show has become one of the most popular television shows on British television – and during the challenge, viewers can tune in for live updates every day from 1900 GMT. For those outside the UK, highlights and updates will be published on volvooceanrace.com.

As they embark on this epic challenge, the crew needs your support. You can sponsor them at sportrelief.com/highseas.

*Image credits: Ian Walker/Musto; Marc Bowe/Comic Relief ltd/Matt Knighton/Corinna Halloran/Volvo Ocean Race