The Global Challenge consists of beating the record for sailing around the world single-handed and without stopover from East to West.
It is a circumnavigation of the world "the wrong way round", i.e. against the prevailing winds for the majority of the voyage (the descent of the Atlantic, rounding Cape Horn, Australia, the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, and returning up the Atlantic).
In fact, the major classic races (Vendée Globe, Jules Verne Trophy, BOC Challenge, Whitbread, etc...) all go the "right way round", from West to East, (down the Atlantic, around the Cape of Good Hope, Australia, Cape Horn, and return up the Atlantic) in the direction of the prevailing winds.

After two first attempts aboard Adrien, but both aborted because of technical problems, Jean-Luc VAN DEN HEEDE widely beat Philippe MONNET’s previous record.

New record to beat : 122 days, 14 hours, 3 minutes and 49 seconds.
HOLDER : Jean-Luc VAN DEN HEEDE aboard his monohull « Adrien »
STARTING AND FINISHING LINES : Line between the Lizard (GB),
and Ushant (F)

One after the other, two French skippers beat the record : 2000 : Philippe MONNET brings the record to 151 days. 2004 : Jean-Luc VAN DEN HEEDE establishes the new record to 122 days.

Record starting date : 7 November 2003
Record Finishing date : 9 March 2004.