Alex Bennett, ex-Team Philips crewman, has bought Pete Goss’ Open 50, Aqua Quorum. Most recently sailing under the flag of Pindar, Aqua Quorum was designed by Adrian Thompson for Pete Goss’ entry in the Vendee Globe. An Open 50, she has seen plenty of service since Goss sailed her back along her own course through a Southern Ocean storm to rescue fellow competitor, Dinelli, from his upturned yacht. One of her latest adventures was in the hands of French yachting journalst, Patrice Carpentier, who sailed her to a very respectable 11th placing in the most recent Vendee Globe.

Since the Team Philips project was disbanded, largely due to the lack of a boat, Goss has watched his mini empire fall apart. Goss Composites and his associated companies are now under the control of the liquidators, including the corporate entertainment enterprise that owned both Aqua Quorum and the well-known British Steel.

Alex Bennett, who was a crewman on the failed Team Philips venture, is still only 25 years old, yet in his short time on the racing circuit, he has managed to compete in the RWYC’s two-handed Round Britain and Ireland Race and the Mini Transat back in 1999. Now looking towards the Transat Jacques Vabre later in the year and the Route du Rhum next year, he has acquired Aqua Quorum to participate competitively and also gain valuable experience.His objective will be to fit in as much practice as he can, get some good results and find the sponsorship necessary in order to compete in the next Vendee Globe in 2004. It is unlikely, however, that if he enters the next Vendee that he will use Aqua Quorum, instead commissioning a new boat for the part. It will be interesting to see if he calls upon the services of Adrian Thompson, but that will wait to be seen.