From the Feedback - 20/11/00

As Goss goes sailing again, Chris Savage has a very interesting idea for Team Philips' future

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From Chris Savage

I've read your recent Goss stories on the site with interest. Isn't the issue not with the concept but with where he is taking it?

I think it fair to say we would all love to blast down the Solent on Team Philips at 30 knots. That boat is undoubtedly the fastest, most innovative and efficient concept ever put on the water given a short choppy seaway. But why destroy both boat, design and sponsor's investment by taking such an incredibly revolutionary, lightweight and radical speed machine to the Southern Ocean? It's akin to designing a revolutionary F1 car for the Paris-Dakar.

When you consider the attention and exposure the yacht could now create just simply blasting round the Med and every other high profile showcase in the world (and the huge return on investment for Philips, Musto and others given the great support they have shown) I can't agree with his continued blinkered approach. I do respect his determination but, due to unforeseen circumstances, he is now in no position to compete competitively. He should capitalise on his bold design by maximising its credibility - destroying it in what is rapidly becoming an unseamanlike and fool-hardy mission, will achieve nothing but damage to both his and his sponsor's reputation.

Given his position today, I think the world (and Philips) would respect him far more if he made a wise decision to concentrate on 24 hour speed sailing, showcasing, and developing the concept and the ground-breaking technology - showing a greater appreciation and respect for the beast he has cleverly created - than heading off over the horizon on a destructive mission few think much of a Race anyway.

With Team Philips, Goss has already won - he is yet to realise it ...