Pete Goss MBE to headline the first Mayflower 400 Speaker Series Event of the Decade

Pete Goss MBE to headline the first Mayflower 400 Speaker Series Event of the Decade © Mayflower400uk.org

Pete Goss MBE, sailor and adventurer turned entrepreneur and author of the bestselling book 'Close to the Wind' has been confirmed to headline the first Mayflower 400 Speaker Series of 2020, a year that signifies 400 years since the Mayflower set sail from the UK on its historic voyage.

The event hosted at the Southampton Harbour Hotel on Wednesday 18th March, forms part of a comprehensive UK speaker series, supported by transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD), commemorating the Mayflower's 400th year anniversary and the importance of the transatlantic relationship between the UK and the US.

Goss is perhaps best known for his heroic rescue of Frenchman and fellow competitor Raphael Dinelli from mountainous Southern Ocean seas and hurricane force winds in the 1996 Vendee Globe single-handed round the world race, for which he was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty the Queen and the Legion d'Honneur by the French President.

He has also walked to the North Pole, kayaked around Tasmania, built Team Philips - arguably the most advanced sailing catamaran ever, and recreated the voyage of the smallest migrant vessel ever to make it to Australia by building the wooden lugger Spirit of Mystery amongst many other adventures.

Jon Hales, Partner and Head of the Southampton office at WBD comments: "We are really looking forward to welcoming Pete to Southampton to headline the first Mayflower 400 Speaker Series of 2020. Pete's experiences and his bravery and determination make him a perfect fit for the speaker series."

"WBD is pleased to support the Speaker Series for the second year running, commemorating the historic voyage of the Mayflower to North America and giving us the perfect opportunity to celebrate our long-lasting ties and ongoing relationship between the US and the UK."

Pete Goss MBE comments: "There are countless parallels that can be drawn between my experiences and those of the pilgrims. To me the definition of an adventure is that it has an unknown outcome. You set off and rely on your collective skills to take on what is thrown at you. It doesn't always work out, but you do your best to achieve the goal as things evolve. To do this a vision is required, a team, skills developed, risk mitigated, logistics planned. All fuelled by passion, courage, determination and persistence."

The Mayflower arrived in Southampton in late July 1620 and several days later was joined by the Speedwell, carrying the Pilgrims from Leiden. Their intention was to prepare both vessels and sail in company directly to America. There were already concerns about the Speedwell, which required repairs after developing a leak, but on 15 August the two ships weighed anchor and set sail. They were later forced to turn back, eventually leaving from Plymouth, however Southampton remains a pivotal compact partner in the 400th year commemorations.

This Mayflower 400 commemoration sits at the very heart of the special relationship between Britain and the US. The official programme in 2020 will comprise over 400 events that will span four Nations - Britain, US, Netherlands and Wampanoag - and is anticipated to yield a significant £440m impact on the business turnover across the UK Mayflower Compact destinations.

More information at womblebonddickinson.com/uk and Mayflower400uk.org