| BT and Josse ready for The Artemis Transit |
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Onboard BT, the technical team is making the final preparations on the boat whilst Seb is studying the weather forecast for the start whilst attending to all the other duties a professional skipper deals with before the start - press conferences, media interviews and the skippers race briefing. The delivery from London to Plymouth last week in thirty knots upwind has been a real test for BT and has given the team the opportunity to test all the systems onboard: 'I'm happy with the changes we've made during the winter refit and the boat feels good. We have a new mast, boom and rigging as well as a new set of sails. I have added strakes (spray defelctors) on the hull and we'll wait for the end of The Artemis Transat to decide what works and what needs improving for the next big challenge - the solo round the world race, the Vendée Globe.' Leaving from Plymouth to go to Boston, this 2800-mile sprint is Seb's first race on his new boat and the last solo race to measure against the competition before the Vendée Globe in November, the pinnacle of the 2008 programme. Thirteen boats will be on the start line on Sunday, and all these boats will meet up again in Les Sables d'Olonne next November. Seb will line up against his Port La Forêt friends, including Vincent Riou. 'Everyone's programme goes on. We had a good year on PRB with Vincent last year and now, I have my own campaign with BT and we'll do our best to keep performing well. That race will be a great opportunity to test the competition. The level in the fleet is very high. 'We'll get a North North-eastelry wind for the start and around 15 to 20 knots. It'll be all right and the pressure will build in momentum. I'm very curious to find out how BT is going to do and how we'll compare with the others. 'This race remains such a major event of offshore racing and of the IMOCA Championship. It will be important to finish on a psychological and technical level, even better if in a good position!'commented Seb. The brand new BT Team Ellen website is now online. To follow Seb in The Artemis Transat, please visit www.btteamellen.com/btimoca60 and to find out more about Ellen's and Nick's news, please visit www.btteamellen.com
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