MORE than a hundred people crowded into Tavistock's Brook Street on Saturday morning hoping to catch a glimpse of yachting hero Pete Goss.

And they weren't disappointed as he stopped to chat and sign autographs after presenting a prestigious quality award to Palmers, the family butchers, with town mayor Judith Williams.

Proprietors Brian and Roger Bird have been awarded membership of the Guild of 'Q' Butchers — an association of independent meat retailers dedicated to providing top quality products and service.

The award recognises the efforts the company has made to try and win back custom for town-centre retailers from the supermarkets.

'We've got to fight back against the supermarkets,' said Brian. 'People can come and talk to us. We can do anything they want. It's back to the personal service again,' he said.

Brian has been friends with Pete since he undertook two arduous years of training under the illustrious skipper before setting sail 'backwards' around the world in the 1992 British Steel Challenge.

'I did all the training for everybody on the challenge, so I got to know the volunteer crews very well — you make very good friends when you train people like that,' said Pete. 'Brian asked me if I could present the award and it's a pleasure —he's a good bloke.'

Pete said he was impressed with what the brothers had achieved at the shop over the years.

'It's like anything — you've got to beaver away,' he said 'And they've achieved a lot here.'

The interest generated in Tavistock by Pete's visit is not unusual. There is still a huge amount of support for the project to win 'The Race' — a non-stop, no-holds-barred race around the world starting midnight December 31 2000. Some 2,500 people visit the Totnes site daily to see Team Philips taking shape again.

'We've been doing really well since the bow broke off,' said Pete. 'It was a bit of a set-back, but either everything falls apart or you all pull together.'

He said they had taken their time in arriving at a solution because although the 'Dunkirk Spirit' could get you out of trouble, he said it could also get you back in.

The boat is being reinforced to make absolutely certain she can withstand mountainous seas in the Southern Ocean at the sort of speeds Team Philips will be doing.

Pete said if the boat were put on its side and two fully-laden articulated trucks were dropped onto the nose at 40mph the hull would remain intact.

One of the biggest difficulties the crew has been facing is the lack of sailing time with the boat off the water. One of the free-standing masts has been mounted in the ground to enable them to continue training — getting used to handling the enormously powerful rigs and changing sails, even in the dark.

Work is not expected to be completed before the end of the summer, but a tentative launch date in September has been set.

Pete and the crew are very optimistic that the boat will perform having sailed a thousand miles in her before the crash and they are all very eager to get back on the water.