PETE GOSS MBE
Pete Goss
is a former
Royal Marine
whose life
has been dominated
by the sport
and adventure
of sailing.
Always leading
from the front
Pete is recognized
as someone
who can put
teams together
and make things
happen, sometimes
against seemingly
impossible
odds. Working
on the cutting
edge of technology
his teams
have to be
both complex
and diverse.
Their skills
and responsibility
range from
design to
build, sponsorship,
PR and of
course the
adventure
itself.
For a speaker
to have the
ability to
connect and
move an audience
is rare, but
to be able
to stretch
and propel
people forward
to want to
achieve and
learn more
about themselves
is truly remarkable
– that’s
the effect
Pete Goss
has on people.
His presentations
inspire people
to enter into
a world of
self-discovery,
to realise
their capabilities
both individually
and collectively,
to sharpen
their skills
and then put
them to the
test.
Pete Goss
is the ultimate
competitor,
whose outstanding
‘can
do’
philosophy,
combined with
his limitless
courage to
overcome all
the risks
and dangers
became abundantly
clear in the
worlds toughest
yacht race,
“The
Vendée
Globe non-stop,
single-handed
Round the
World Race”.
His vision
and ten-year
dream in the
making, resulted
in him setting
off from France
in November
1996, in a
race that
would test
him, his team
and the boat
to the absolute
limit.
Up against
bigger boats,
and far better
funded competitors,
Pete had to
risk everything
just to get
to the starting
line. Having
had to sell
his house
and with debts
round his
neck, he knew
that he would
have to draw
upon all his
experience,
endurance
and strength
of mind just
to complete
the race.
Then quite
unexpectedly
in December
the drama
of the race
unfolded in
the notorious
hostile environment
of the southern
ocean. The
world looked
on as huge
seas and winds
of up to 80mph
pounded Raphael
Dinelli’s
stricken boat;
he was facing
certain death.
After receiving
the distress
call Pete
immediately
turned his
boat around
and battled
for two days
against hurricane
force winds
to reach Dinelli
and rescue
him - the
rest is now
history.
Pete became
the fastest
British sailor
to sail single
handed around
the world
in 126 days
and 21 hours.
For his heroic
rescue of
Dinelli, he
was awarded
France’s
highest decoration,
the Legion
d’Honneur
by President
Chirac of
France, and
the MBE by
Her Majesty
the Queen.
His single-minded
determination
during the
last leg of
the race became
abundantly
clear when
he was forced
to operate
on himself
without anaesthetic
and just a
few basic
instructions
to repair
ruptured muscles
around his
elbow, after
which he joked…
“Now
I’m
truly a single-handed
sailor”.
Pete’s
captivating
story of his
life and the
Vendee is
now in print,
“Close
to the Wind”
which summons
each of us
to search
for our own
vision, and
to have the
courage and
determination
to face our
own challenges.
He emphasises
that his success
is due, in
no small part,
to his totally
dedicated
and committed
team, whose
skills and
focus are
united, in
a common drive
to succeed.
People come
away inspired
from Pete’s
talks, sharing
in his ethos
of taking
responsibility
for what they
want to achieve
and for what
they believe
in.
Rising
to the Challenge
Pete Goss
should have
been competing
in The Race,
an ultimate
test of physical
and mental
endurance
to be the
fastest to
sail around
the world,
without any
rules or limits.
The Race represents
everything
that Pete
believes in.
He led the
project to
build the
worlds largest
catamaran
and combined
both all the
individual
talents of
his team with
the latest
in technology
and design.
Closer to
Star Wars
than Howard's
Way, Team
Philips was
the very essence
of innovation.
The revolutionary
catamaran
has hardly
been out of
the news sailing
at speeds
of up to 50
knots, after
two major
setbacks including
a break in
the bows and
mast repairs
the boat was
finally lost
at sea in
December 2000.
This project
captured the
public's imagination
as one of
the most exciting
and daring
adventures
in more ways
than one.
The project
is best summed
up in Pete’s
own words…
Pete Goss
today announced
that the Team
Philips' project
has drawn
to a close.
"For
me, it has
been a privilege
to have been
custodian
of such a
special dream
which has
touched so
many. I could
not have wished
for a more
dignified
and supportive
team who,
together,
have been
through so
much. If anything
has kept us
going during
the hard times
and made the
good times
so rewarding
it is the
incredible
public support
that we enjoyed.
This is best
embodied by
the hull names
and volunteers
who have given
so much to
help others
participate
in our adventure.”
"Accepting
the risks
we chose to
drive in the
fast lane.
Defeat, however,
sometimes
has to be
accepted.
As a team
we can look
it in the
eye knowing
that we gave
it our all.
"We
dared to dream
and we are
proud of what
we achieved."
In a common
statement,
the sponsors
said: "Team
Philips was
an unique
project and
at the cutting
edge of technology.
In such a
pioneering
yacht there
is always
an element
of risk, which
we acknowledged
from the outset.
By the nature
of our businesses,
we believe
in pushing
the boundaries
of technology
and taking
prudent risks.
"The
sponsorship
has delivered
many of its
objectives.
The craft
was innovative
and beautiful.
She captivated
all who saw
her and evoked
emotions that
we are all
proud to have
been associated
with."
Should Team
Philips appear
at a later
date, the
sponsors have
agreed to
work with
Goss Challenges
to take the
appropriate
steps that
her condition
dictates.
Pete is the
author of
a best selling
book and is
happily married
with three
young children
and enjoys
furniture
making.
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