Virgin Atlantic Challenger?

[blimp]

I know, I know ... this has nowt to do with ribs ... but, while I was over seatrialling some ribs a couple of months ago I passed a rather sad looking Virgin Atlantic Challenger tied up on the water in Southampton. Can anyone tell me what the story is with her at present. Is she mothballed, being used for corporate events, for sale?

[wavecrosschris]

last I saw of it was on a website a few months ago - someone had bought it and was trying to run a charter business from it out in the med. Hopefully it's back for renovation then!

[Carl]

where was it in southampton?

[blimp]

Not too familiar with Southampton, but it was mid-channel on one of those floating berth things, not far from that bridge by the football stadium

[Cookee]

That would be up the Itchin towards Drivers and Southampton Dry Stack.

[bedajim]

Isn't that the BP boat that went around the world ?

[Carl]

thats what i thought its the cabel and wireless/bt global challenger ,tri hull boat,very tired now. the virgin boat is still in the med

[blimp]

Whoops - that'll be it then!

... so ... can anyone advise on what's the story with her (global challenger) - for sale, mothballed, etc?

(sorry again that its not rib-related - a colleague of mine, with more money than sense, is particularly interested)

[Matt]

He'll need a LOT more money than sense.

[wavecrosschris]

It was renovated and relaunched a few years ago 2000? - the magazines did an article on it - it's in the med somewhere for charter now and there is a website somewhere but it doesn't google as they re-named the boat!