The Team

As a team we’re driven by a set of values that, we believe, puts us ahead of our competitors. Over time, we have developed principles through series of different races, which define the essence of our team, our people and our work ethic. The presence of these values throughout our side helps to create a united, motivated crew, guiding us towards results, which, together with our sponsors, we can be extremely proud of. Our main sponsor has staked its place in the pharmaceutical industry as a company, through giving people a chance, encouraging leadership and its commitment to training. This is a great example of what beliefs can achieve – ingredients which all point to the perfect partnership between Challenge Sailing Team and our main sponsor.

The team so far includes:
• Lee Gallacher (Skipper)
• Alex Alley (Yacht Designer and shore manager) will also be involved with double-handed races
• Mark Mills (Designer)
• Anja Dhanis (Anja joins us as part of our shore team that mainly communicates with European press. She is a native Belgian and speaks five languages.)
• Chris Wotton from Leepeckgreenfield PR firm who are also the PR Agents for Premier League football Team Southampton.
• The innovative team from Ocean Web have designed the web sites and provided onboard IT for some of the most famous yachting events in the world. They will build and host our web sites, implement all onboard IT hardware & software as well as run all of the shore-side to boat communications and liaise with the coastguards with action plans in case of emergencies.

Lee Gallacher
Lee is an accomplished yachtsman already having sailed through the Southern Ocean onboard Olympic Group in the 2000/2001BT Global Challenge.

“Pourquoi pas? - Why not?”

Only last year Lee was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, after having suffered with pain for over 6 years. He is rather extraverted and takes life as it comes. He is able to keep matters in proportion and adapt his approach to a variety of situations. He tends to be independent and rather daring, but also a great team player and with his expressive and infectious enthusiasm he is able to influence and motivate people.

The message is clear: “Think Big and Get It Done.” You may not personally lead a team, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not a leader. Whether you’re a thought leader or a driver in your team, you’re helping lead others; not necessarily through your position, but in how you behave. We actively promote team commitment. We look at what people can bring to the table and how people can communicate; stretching yourselves to reach that next level outside of your comfort zone.

Through our endeavours to compete at such a high level of offshore sailing in the single-handed and short-handed circuit this will show how important team work and communication is of paramount importance.

In the words of Seneca
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare.
It is because we do not dare that they are difficult”

Alex Alley
Alex began sailing as a child in Mirror dinghies, as many other people have. A highly competitive individual who after teaching himself to sail, began to become more and more interested in making his boat go faster. The next few years were spent in various dinghy classes, each one better than the last. Alex was bitten by the yacht racing bug in Ramsgate whilst crewing on other peoples boats, eventually racing on ever bigger and better boats. After leaving school, Alex moved to Southampton to study Yacht Design and manufacture and to be nearer the heart of Yacht racing, the river Hamble and Cowes. All his spare time was spent ‘roaming’ the pontoons and getting a ride on as many boats as possible for experience.

Ultimately, Alex ended up on some very serious yachts and was part of a team selected to represent England in an International Team Competition in Ireland. The 3 boat English team, of which Alex was a part, went on to win. Nowadays Alex earns a living as a sales manager for a marine equipment distributor on the South coast, so is never too far from the marine environment.

Next year Alex embarks on the Global Challenge. A 30,000 mile yacht race around the world. Despite having many thousands of racing miles under his belt, this will be Alex’s first foray into the wild Southern Ocean. The race begins in September 2004 and returns to Southampton some 9 months later. Alex is married to Louisa and has 2 children, Stephen and Sophie.

There is only one thing stopping you achieving your goals. That one thing is yourself. If you are determined enough to succeed, then you will