EASTLEIGH-BASED freight forwarders PSP are celebrating a wild new contract to ship 100ft-long racing yachts around the world.

The prestige deal sees PSP win the exclusive rights to move famed £1m Australian racing yacht Wild Thing from race to race.

From that deal the Boyatt Wood company won a similar contract for a further two 100ft racing yachts and is now seeing orders flood in from smaller boats.

For managing director Frank Dixie it's the achievement of a long-cherished ambition.

He said: "For PSP it is a breakthrough we have been after for a long time. It has put us into the marine market big-time."

Frank put together a special deal for the boats' owners, trusting that the exposure PSP received would spark more business - and so it has proved.

"I went to the boat owners and said I'll do all the shipping for you on a good deal if you give me total exposure.

"Wild Thing recommended us to other boats and and before you know it you're in a market you have been trying to break into for years," he said.

"It is unusual to be appointed the official freight forwarders for a boat. I don't think it's been done before, but we have three racing yachts now and we hope for more soon."

With Wild Thing scheduled to make a stop-off at next year's Cowes Week, PSP will be shipping it virtually on to its own doorstep.

"She's coming to Cowes and we are really excited because it is going to be a huge event with lots of media exposure. Wild Thing is to Australia what Ferrari is to Italy. It has that following, it has all that public relations and it's sexy as well as being a revolutionary boat. We are proud to be associated with it."