Finishing touches

Ellen's new trimaran comes together in Sydney

Ellen MacArthur's new 75ft Castorama B&Q trimaran is nearing competition at the huge shed loaned to the team by Sydney Port Authority and P&O at Glebe. Thursday will see the big tri craned into the water and the 30.6m tall Southern Spars mast fitted at the same time.

Construction of the trimaran has been carried out by BoatSpeed over an incredibly swift seven month period starting in May this year. Boatspeed regularly had more than 30 boat builders working regularly on the project and there were occasions when the tight production schedule demanded that they would work shifts around the clock.

Preparations for the launch of the new trimaran are underway. This will take place in Sydney's Darling Harbour outside the National Maritime Museum and will coincide with the official opening of the opening day of the Schroders London Boat Show on Thursday, 8 January 2004.

Ellen MacArthur has been officially invited by Schroders to co-open the 50th anniversary of the London Boat Show via satellite link from Sydney. "You cannot believe the effort that is going into this project right now," said MacArthur. "More and more of the team are in Sydney as we finalise the boat before putting her in the water and for the launch itself. It's a stressful and exciting time!"