Kingfisher Challenges - Final Stages Of Assembly Before 75-Foot Tri is Craned Into Water

IN BRIEF:

* FINAL STAGES OF ASSEMBLY BEFORE NEW 75-FOOT TRIMARAN IS CRANED INTO WATER... Go to http://www.teamellen.com and click on the webcam icon to see the action in the assembly shed

* CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRIMARAN HAS TAKEN MORE THAN 30,000 MAN HOURS...

* PREPARATIONS FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW TRIMARAN ARE UNDERWAY...counting down to the 8th January 2004 - launch day of the new trimaran and opening day of the Schroders London Boat Show when MacArthur will officially co-open the 50th London Boat Show via satellite link... http://www.schroderslondonboatshow.com

IN DETAIL:

FINAL STAGES OF ASSEMBLY BEFORE NEW 75-FOOT TRIMARAN IS CRANED INTO WATER...the build team of the new B&Q trimaran are entering the final week of assembly at the huge shed loaned to the team by Sydney Port Authority and P&O at Glebe before the boat is craned into the water on Thursday - the 30.6m mast will also be fitted on the same day.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRIMARAN HAS TAKEN MORE THAN 30,000 MAN HOURS over a seven month period since May this year. The Nigel Irens designed B&Q trimaran was constructed at the Boatspeed facility north of Sydney in Australia. Through this time more than 30 boat builders worked regularly on the project simultaneously and there were occasions when they would work shifts around the clock. The entire construction of Castorama B&Q has been in carbon fibre, one of the strongest materials in the world, used in high-tech construction to withstand extreme loads.

CLICK ON THE WEBCAM TO SEE THE FINAL STAGES OF ASSEMBLY...just click on the webcam icon at http://www.teamellen.com to see the final stages of the trimaran assembly in progress.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW TRIMARAN ARE UNDERWAY in Sydney where the trimaran will be launched in Darling Harbour outside the National Maritime Museum to coincide with the official opening of the opening day of the Schroders London Boat Show on Thursday, 8th 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!"