Ellen MacArthur’s new Nigel Irens-designed 75ft B&Q trimaran was wheeled out of the assembly shed at the Sydney Port Authority and P&O base at Glebe and gently lifted by a giant crane before being lowered into the water yesterday.

Once afloat the 100ft mast was then fitted to the main hull. According to MacArthur the entire operation took 12 hours. Commenting on the event MacArthur said: ‘It has been quite an emotional day to see her finally in the water where she belongs.”