Skippers : Mike Golding - Vendée Globe

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Mike Golding

Nationality:
Residence: Southampton, Hampshire (UK)
Birth date: born in 1960
Vendée Globe achievements: • 3rd entry in the Vendée Globe (7th in 2000/01 and 3rd in 2004/05)
Boat: Ecover
Web Site: http://fr.mikegolding.com
Situation: Married with a child

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Presentation

Fighting Spirit

Watch out! Here’s the favourite! The former professional fireman is certainly a fearsome opponent for all the others in this Vendée Globe, in which he will be sailing for the third time. Seventh in 2001 and third in 2005 after achieving the feat of sailing his boat home to Les Sables d’Olonne after she lost her keel, the Englishman could well be getting the better over his “froggy” rivals...

Specialising in sailing around the world the “wrong” way, which he has done both as a solo yachtsman and as part of a crew, Mike has a wealth of experience and exceptional sailing skills. He leaves nothing to chance either and over the past twenty five years plying the seven seas has made him a giant of ocean racing, who is usually on the winning side.

The winner of The Transat in 2004, and with several successes under his belt in the Route du Rhum and the Transat Jacques Vabre, he also revealed his true talent in the last Velux Five Oceans, which he was forced to quit following damage to his boat, after managing to rescue his fellow Brit, Alex Thomson. A fighter to the bitter end, Mike has all the talent and the fighting spirit it takes to be a great yachtsman. He is in it to win.

Press Contact : Victoria LOW
+44 783 632 7362 / victoria.low@btinternet.com

Achievements

• SNSM Record in 2006 (Imoca category)
• 5 Transat Jacques Vabre races, including three podium places
• 2nd in the 2002 Route du Rhum
• 2nd in 2005 and 3rd in 2003 in the Calais Round Britain and Ireland Race
• Winner of the Atlantic Challenge in 2003
• Winner in 2004 and 3rd in 2000 in The Transat
• 3rd in the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe

On the 60’ « Ecover 3 »
• 5th in the 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre
• Forced to retire from the Transat Ecover B to B in 2007
• 7th in the 2008 SNSM record
• 3rd in the 2008 Artemis Challenge

Boat

Ecover 3, like his previous boat, comes from the Owen-Clarke design studio. The experience Mike and the design team have had together will certainly be a determining factor. In spite of a few teething problems, Ecover 3 is now clearly in great shape. We can rest assured that the joint training sessions carried out with her sister-ship Aviva will enable her to be extremely well prepared.

Boat
- Designer: Owen Clarke Design
- Boatyard: Hakes Marine Construction (Wellington, New Zealand)
- Launch date: August 2007
- Length: 18.28 m (60’)
- Beam: 5.80 m (19’)
- Draught: 4.50 m (14’ 9’’)
- Displacement (weight): 8300kg
- Number of daggerboards: 2
- Mast height: 27 m (88’ 6’’)
- Keel blade : carbon
- Upwind sail surface: 300 m2
- Downwind sail surface: 580 m2