"I spent 32 days racing JUBILAEUM, a Valiant 50, from Antigua to Bermuda, to the Azores, to Plymouth. We were a cruising boat with two couples, a dodger, bimini, padded seats, and generator - all the comforts. The last thing we expected was to be competitive. We finished first across the line on three legs ('99 TransArc). We were in competition with 23 boats, the fastest of which, a Baltic 48 with a hired crew of six professional Italian sailors, coffee grinder winches and no crew comforts. They finished one hour and thirty-two minutes behind us (on the first leg)."

"The Valiant 50 is truly a dream to sail. Easily handled by a cruising couple, the boat makes crossing oceans seem like a common occurrence. We logged over 5,000 miles and never had a moments hesitation about the boat. I never once questioned that the boat was the "Queen of the fleet" or that it would bring us safely and comfortably home."