Sussex sailor Graham Goff was returning to port today aboard the £4 million catamaran Team Philips - just 18 hours after setting out for New York.

A project spokesman said today the 120ft craft was heading back to Dartmouth, Devon, because of a swaying movement at the bottom of one of the 135ft twin masts.

The boat is skippered by Pete Goss, 38, a former Royal Marine. Among the five-man crew is Mr Goff, 40, from Chichester.

The setback follows the March 29 disaster off the Isles of Scilly when 40ft of the craft's port bow snapped off during initial sea trials.

A project spokesman said Team Philips was "going beautifully" in the Channel heading towards the Bay of Biscay when the crew noticed the problem.

She said: "It was of sufficient concern to decide to come back, postpone the sea trials, pick out the mast, have a look and reassess.

"They have been sailing back. It is not an enormous issue."

The catamaran has to be in Monaco by December 13 to take part in a prologue race, before heading up to Barcelona for the start of The Race.