A NEW era is planned for the Spirit of Teignmouth project – in Torquay. Plans are being drawn up for a high-profile floating pontoon in the town's inner harbour for the final stages of the boat build along with a sailing centre and museum to celebrate Torbay's rich maritime history. The temporary pontoon and marquee structures are planned for a two-year run from February 2007 until October 2009. That is more than a year longer than the project will be at its namesake town of Teignmouth. It comes as The Spirit of Teignmouth project on the Den is given until February to shape up and ship out. But whether the 68ft trimaran remains The Spirit of Teignmouth is yet to be seen. Skipper Simon Chalk, 33, said that the name might change to incorporate a major sponsor, but he promised that 'Teignmouth' will be on the boat somewhere. 'There have been many supporters in Teignmouth, despite their voices not being as loud as some of the minority, and I will continue to honour that,' he said. He admitted that Teignmouth had been a 'rough ride,' and had there been more time, the project would not have to be finished to this extent elsewhere. 'It was always intended that the boat would berth in Torquay but never on this scale.' And he refuted the suggestion that Teignmouth was a temporary home before the project moved on to bigger things. 'It was never thought of by me as a stop gap before Torquay. Never. It is my home port and I had planned to see the boat completely finished here, apart from the sail and mast. But that has not happened and this is an opportunity for the project in Torquay. The plans include a 25.5 metre x 50 metre pontoon in the inner harbour near the clock tower. It will be self-sufficient with its own windpower, solar panels and recycled materials and has been given the provisional backing of a major sponsor. And it is hoped that it will attract the support of a sailing race to the town which has already proved to be a big hit in France. Plans are yet to be submitted to Torbay Council, but Mr Chalk is confident of the backing of business leaders in the town. Should the plans go ahead, it will be a major turnaround for the boat build that has been the subject of criticism and political backbiting since its arrival in Teignmouth last year. It will be a re-launch of the project with a prime spot for what has been termed a gateway to Torquay's sailing present and past. l from page one The multi-purpose temporary structure boasts a visitor centre, café, licensed presentation suite and sail training classroom. It is expected that the trimaran will take its first sea trial to La Gomera in October 2007. After that, the floating structure will remain as the media hub for tracking the progress of the round-the-world voyage. Though it was originally hoped that Teignmouth could bask in the voyage's publicity, Mr Chalk insists that Teignmouth will not be forgotten about. 'The boat is to be launched from Teignmouth and will return to Teignmouth. I gave my word on that and I stick to it,' he said. Yet he also recognises that the project's reputation in Teignmouth will affect his bid for Torbay. But it is hoped that now wrangling over the boat shed on the Den were put to bed by a 14-4 decision at Monday's Teignbridge Council's Development Control meeting, people will get behind the project to make the best of it through the winter and spring. 'We really do want to create good feeling about the project here in Teignmouth and I hope that people will support it here while it is here,' he said.