Legendary proa Cheers is to be relaunchd on September 11 at the French port of Saint-Louis-du-Rhone following a five year restoration project.

The boat was nicknamed the 'Giant Killer' following her performance in the 1968 OSTAR, when skipper Tom Follett was beaten by only two monohulls - the 56' Sir Thomas Lipton and 50' ketch Voortrekker.

Cheers then spent 25 years languishing in an Exeter musuem. She was purchased by a team of French doctors, who, with the help of the French government, have spent thousands of pounds and hours in restoration. Although the boat was close to being a complete wreck prior to the restoration, she retains roughly 50% of her original structure and fittings.

For more on the launch, visit the French site www.adonnante.com/article/5562/Renaissance-d-une-legende
Yachting Monthly, 22 August 2006