Goss Vendee boat finds new owner

Former Team Philips crewman buys ex-Aqua Quorum

"It's been the busiest four weeks of my life," Bennett told madforsailing. "I've had to sort out all the finance and logistics. But it now means that I have a boat to compete in the international circuit right up until the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2003."

The boat's first major race this year will be the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre which starts from Le Havre on 3 November. However as a source of income Bennett plans to charter the boat out for corporate entertainment and in this guise he plans for it to take part in the Fastnet and Round the Island races and the America's Cup Jubilee Regatta. He still has to decide upon a crew for the Transat Jacques Vabre and says that he plans to sail the boat back from the finish in Brazil singlehanded for training purposes.

The programme for 2002 includes the Royal Western Yacht Club's two-handed Round Britain and Ireland Race followed by the Route du Rhum in the autumn. He says he will not compete in the Around Alone that year because it will take him away from the UK for too long, where he feels he is needed to talk to sponsors and maximise publicity. His ultimate goal is to build a new boat to take part in the 2004 Vendee Globe.

The boat is currently lying at Mountbatten in Plymouth where Bennett plans to give her a minor refit after its most recent circumnavigation. Of her condition Bennett commented: "I expected it to be competely shagged. Cosmetically it could do with painting, but all the essentials seem fine. The rig is in really good order. The sails are good. The comms gear is all up and running. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

Bennett's first major hurdle will be to find the £100,000 necessary for him to take part in the Transat Jacques Vabre. "We're emphasising it is part of the big picture that is the Vendee." Pete Goss is helping Bennett with advice about how to find sponsors.

We spoke to Bennett after he had just returned from delivering the boat back from France. "She's lovely - such a nice boat to sail. I can't wait to get out there and race her."