Ocean Hero - now for a Slow Boat to Australia

'Spirit of Mystery -ballast into position' .

He's sailed a quarter of a million miles in the world's oceans, he was awarded an MBE by the Queen, and a Legion d'Honneur by the French President. He earned forever the admiration of the world for turning his downwind racer into the storm in the Southern Ocean, retracking his path and saving fellow sailor Raphael Dinelli in the 1996 Vend?e Globe solo around the world yacht race. He is Pete Goss.

Soon, after months of effort, Pete will start on a journey at the other end of the sailing spectrum. He has been restoring a classic boat, the 37-foot Cornish lugger 'Spirit of Mystery', with his brother Andy.

Spirit of Mystery - .. .

Pete has built Spirit of Mystery to shine a light on the bravery of the seven Cornishmen who made the heroic journey to Melbourne to escape poverty, follow the gold rush - gold had been discovered in 1851 and the gold-fever had spread around the world - and seek out a new life in Australia.

The original Mystery left Newlyn on Saturday 18th November 1854, travelled about 11,800 nautical miles in 116 days before arriving in Melbourne on 14th March 1855. Pete will follow in their wake in a boat that has had history literally built into it, as Pete has sourced wood from Nelson's Victory and the Cutty Sark, and a part of the rigging from the SS Great Britain.

After months of building, the waiting is nearly over for the Goss brothers, who will be launching the lugger at 7.00pm on Saturday 21st June, the summer solstice, in Millbrook, near Torpoint, South East Cornwall.

Pete Goss - .. .

The full crew will also be afloat together for the first time. Like the original crew, who were all related by either blood or marriage, it will be a family affair with the crew comprising: Pete Goss; his younger brother Andy; Pete's youngest son Eliot (who will be 14 when they set sail); and Pete's brother in law Andy Maidment.

Pete said: 'This is the first real test for the boat and we can't wait to see her on the water. Spirit of Mystery is a real community affair; many people have donated items such as wood for the hull, lead for ballast or just time, enthusiasm and energy to the project, which has generated interest from around the world. I hope people will come along to show their support, join in the fun and follow the project on the website.'

Planned departure date is 21st October, just 154 years after its first departure.

Further details: www.petegoss.com

by BW Media