Team Philips re-launch date announced

by Vicky Bartholomew 3 Aug 2000 16:40 BST

The Cat Rides Again

Pete Goss today announced the date that his revolutionary catamaran Team Philips would be back in the water and her sailing programme. The world's largest pure carbon structure will be launched from her build site at Baltic Wharf, Totnes, Devon on Saturday 23rd September 2000.

"This is the moment that we have been waiting four months for." Said Goss. "We can't wait to get her out sailing again and to show what she can really do. We have already sailed 1,000 miles in Team Philips and know that she is a very special boat. We are confident in her ability and as a team are focussed on getting out there to win The RACE."

"The support that we have received from the public has been tremendous and we don't want to let them down." He continued.

The port bow of the 120 ft catamaran spectacularly broke off near the Isles of Scilly in March 2000. She has been repaired by Goss Composites in their factory in Devon without changing Adrian Thompson's original, radical design concept.

The launch will take place over two days with Team Philips being lowered into the water at approximately 1200 hours on 23rd September. Her two new engines, which have been added as a safety precaution for the RACE, will then be tested down the 12 mile stretch of the River Dart.

She will return to Totnes on the morning of 24th September in order that her two giant 135ft masts can be stepped. The wishbones and sails will also be attached prior to returning to Dart Marina, Dartmouth for final preparations before her first sail.

The launch is expected to be a dramatic event with a number of bands including the Herald Trumpeters of the Royal Marines playing to the crowds that will line the river. South Hams District Council are expecting even larger crowds than the 40,000 who came to watch at the previous launch on March 4th.

The crew of six will sail across the Atlantic to New York prior to sailing to Monaco on 30th November for the prologue to the RACE. She will then go to Barcelona for 9th December and remain there until the start on 31st December.

Pete Goss will make the announcement at 1800 hrs (UK time) this evening in a virtual press conference hosted by sponsors Philips, BT and Sun in Cowes. It can be seen live on the project's website www.teamphilips.com. He will be joined by fellow race competitors Grant Dalton (NZ) and Steve Fossett (USA). The Team Philips website is expected to receive hundreds of thousands of hits for the press conference. It has already attracted over 27 million hits since it launched in January with a three million in one day peak when the yacht was damaged during sea trails.