From the Feedback - 16/12/00

We'll be publishing the choicest moments from the stuff you send us - but each contribution may or may not be subjected to a rigorous process of editing for language, taste and imparted wisdom. And of course, as they so famously say at the start of anything like this, the opinions expressed in From the Feedback do not necessarily reflect those of the management, staff or investors of madforsport.com. Instead, and much more importantly, they reflect your views.

From M Sempers,
In response to Team Philips feedback ... Very sad to see Team Philips fail - for this Race at least. Can't help feeling the concept is the right one, you can't go on scaling up for ever, things like the cube-square rule get in the way. As for the sponsorship - I think Philips should be quite happy. Ask the man on the street about Kingfisher, Legato, Code 1 etc. - what are the chances that they've heard of them? As for Team Philips, it's practically a household name. Proof that there's no such thing as bad publicity!

From P Twine,
The final chapter for Team Philips? What a dreadful shame for Pete Goss and the Philips team! Only a few syndicates managed to get through the funding stage and create or modify their boats for The Race. I firmly believe that all teams deserve our support for starting something that some of us can only dream of doing. Goss raised the profile of British sailing and deserves all the support that us enthusiasts can offer. Arguably all challenges in sailing have been attempted or completed by now and all that remains is to do them faster! This cannot be done without the advances in technology both mechanically and architecturally. This boat will not be forgotten, and hopefully all that have read about it, or seen it (as I have), are left with a lasting impression of the lengths that we can go to with the resources available to us, to build a revolutionary craft. Is it not more important that it was attempted at all?

From Rusmakuk,
Facing the music or a hero`s return? "Remember your dream is your only scheme, so keep on pushing." "You got to keep on keeping on." Lyrics of Curtis Mayfield that relate directly to Pete Goss' approach to life, you can't knock a man who is able to bring his dreams into reality. RESPECT.

From ttpfitz,
The Vendee Globe. Can Parlier get back into it? Of course he can; this is not a done deal, the weather conditions will continue to fluctuate dramatically favouring those first to the south (as it did for Parlier) and then those to the north as it did the current leaders. The nice neat arrows on the weather maps are estimates based on pressure and other observations; they are ballpark only and not precise. They can easily be 20-30 degrees off, ten-to-15 knots out and either further north or south than the maps indicate.

From Alex Davies,
What do you think about Goss` actions? I know we're all bemoaning the loss of another sponsor of sailing, surely sponsorship is all about getting publicity. I reckon Philips couldn't have asked for more publicity, with their name plastered all over every paper, the six o'clock news etc. This isn't all bad news, Royal and SunAlliance ran an excellent follow up advertising campaign when Tracey Edwards crashed the ex-ENZA in the Southern Ocean. Note that Club Med isn't exactly making massive headlines outside our own little world of sailing.

From Gersonae,
The final chapter for Team Philips? I don't think so. The problem is that small scale experiment had to be made before going for the big project and those scale models have never been done. The trials should have been carried out on a smaller scale catamaran to try and examine the boat and its systems, so the accumulation of information is profitable for the next time.

From E G Boden,
Is the fate of Team Philips as irrelevant as Dalts claims? Yes, I agree that the fate of Team Philips is irrelevant because they were pushing the envelope a fair bit harder than the rest of the fleet. I do applaud their attempt because that is how progress comes about. A failure is ultimately often as valuable as a success. Also, I like Dalton's tortoise and hare metaphor. The winner isn't necessarily the fastest boat, but the one that crosses the finish line first! Often overlooked, serendipity plays a much more significant hand than is usually given its due. If you're lucky, you're lucky - and that gives you greater latitude for recovery from a bum decision. One of the fascinating aspects of sailing.

From Mike Ahrenberg,
What do you think about the Vendee Globe? I think that right now Ellen is doing very well. We have to see when the next weather system picks her up. I´m afraid that the front-runners will have some potent competition by then. Now in this story you can see how single-handed sailors react to small things like seeing a competitor. The irritation is there immediately and the questions - like have I done this badly! Also to be constantly alert to how the vessel behaves (weeds, whales etc..) takes its toll. However, I have a feeling that Ellen is going to come out as a podium finisher.

From R Whaye,
Was Team Philips' concept wrong? It is much too early or even impossible to answer this question now. The concept is not necessarily wrong. For me the main quote in the piece is, "Team Philips may have some design features that do work well but need further development". Team Philips was denied the need for proper trials and the testing of all its components. Once these had been accomplished and the boat had set out on a number of record attempts, it would have been proper to make a judgement.

Editor's note:
If you've got something to say about Goss and co. - and don't think the 'From the Feedback is for you - why not say your piece in our Team Philips Forum?