Lightning-quick qualifier for Goss and Larsen

by Stuart Elford on 18 May 2006 Fog, strong winds and heavy rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of Pete Goss and Paul Larsen as they completed their qualifying passage for the two-handed Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race in lightning-quick time.

Setting out from Weymouth late on Sunday night and sailing their SeaCart 30 for the first time in anger, the duo were off the Scilly Isles by lunchtime the following day. Despite leaving in the dark and sailing straight into fog, the incredible performance of the lightweight trimaran kept their spirits soaring.

Grabbing moments of sleep on the multihull’s windward trampolines, Pete and Paul kept the boat flying, returning to Weymouth and completing the 300-mile qualifying passage in just 24 hours – an incredibly fast time that even surprised the two-man crew.

Pete Goss talked excitedly about the trip when he returned to Weymouth to continue preparing the boat for next month’s 2,500-mile race. 'The boat is fantastic,' he said. 'I always felt she was good, but the last 24 hours has put the Round Britain Race in context – I think we are sitting on a real smoking rocket.'

Pete and Paul are competing in the race to raise awareness and funds for the Cornwall Playing for Success Charity, of which Pete is a founding trustee. While the pair were putting the ultra-lightweight, all-carbon, thirty-foot trimaran through her paces in The Channel, children from Cornwall Playing for Success were making their own preparations for the race.

Youngsters taking part in the out-of-school-hours programme – which aims to raise numeracy, literacy and IT skills in the participants – were each preparing a ‘message in a bottle’ for Pete and Paul to drop off as they circumnavigate Britain and Ireland. Messages from children at the Penzance Pirates CPfS centre include ‘a hope and a dream’ from each of them. By studying where the bottles are dropped and where and when they are found, they will learn about ocean currents and the effects of the tide.

Pete Goss said that he was delighted with the support and interest the children had for his latest adventure: 'Cornwall Playing for Success helps children achieve their best by using sport to bridge the gap between education and unrealised potential. I am honoured to support the charity and humbled by the messages of support we are receiving from children through the website – www.petegoss.com. If our adventure and the charity can give these kids the boost and self-esteem they need, it will have been a success.'