CHEERS was piloted in the 1968 OSTAR (Observer's Singlehanded Trans-Atlantic Race) from Plymouth, England to Newport, Rhode Island by skipper Tom Follett in 27 days, 13 minutes. He finished 3rd overall, beaten only by two monohulls, the 56' Sir Thomas Lipton and the 50' ketch Voortrekker. Follett sailed from the Caribbean to England before the race and from Newport back to St. Croix afterwards.

For the full story, read 'Project Cheers' (Adlard Coles, 1969), a book detailing the saga of Newick's giant-killing Atlantic proa.

Race Committee letter, October, 1967: Royal Western Yacht Club of England

"I notice that you are taking steps to enable the crew to right the vessel when it has capsized, but my committee are more interested in any steps you may take to stop the capsizing in the first place. We are still of the opinion that to race along at 25 knots in between periodically capsizing is not a proper way to cross the Atlantic..."

French doctors Vincent and Nélie Besin now own and have restored CHEERS with the financial help of the French goverment which has declared her a "monument historique", one of less than 100 small craft and the only multihull.

Dick Newick, April 19, 2002

June 1968
image scanned by Matthieu Rougevin-Baville

VIDEO: Tom Follett sailing! (at 7:19)

• Photos prises par Matthieu Rougevin-Baville
• 1968 Race History
• 'Giant Killer' back in action
• Rebirth of a legend
• Cheers 1967-2006 - amateurboatbuilding.com, "The first Atlantic Proa in history was imagined, designed and constructed by Dick Newick. Cheers was relaunched at Port Saint Louis (south of France) after being fully restored by Vincent Besin and friends."
• Golden Oldies Multihulls
• VIDEO: THE AMAZING STORY OF PROA CHEERS - english subtitles (only at Vimeo).