The record-breaking performances continue at the seventh edition of the Vendée Globe. On Wednesday evening, Great Britain's Mike Golding only crossed the finish line in sixth place, falling short of his own expectations. Nevertheless, the 52-year-old set a new record. The warhorse from Southampton is the first skipper to finish the Vendée Globe three times.
"I've taken part in the Vendée Globe four times and finished it three times. I have beaten all the predictions that say that normally less than 50 per cent of starters reach the finish line of the Vendée Globe," said Golding, "I have beaten these predictions in many races. But I didn't take part to improve the statistics. I was looking for the competition. Winning would have been my dream. I didn't manage that. But in the pursuit of this dream, I was able to realise a few other dreams. It's an honour for me to hold this new record of three completed races."
Mike Golding completed his single-handed non-stop circumnavigation with the "Gamesa" in 88 days, six hours, 36 minutes and 26 seconds. The Englishman covered a total of 27,281 nautical miles at an average speed of 12.9 knots. The winner, François Gabart, reached the finish harbour of Les Sables d'Olonne ten days, four hours, 19 minutes and 46 seconds before Golding.
In the last 36 hours, Britain's "all-purpose ocean-going weapon" had to reduce its speed because it had lost a cover on its keel box. As a result, water had entered the boat. The material breakage sealed Golding's defeat in the private duel with Frenchman Jean Le Cam, who had crossed the finish line in fifth place after a thrilling duel.
Dominique Wavre is expected to be the next participant in Les Sables d'Olonne. The Swiss had around 400 nautical miles to go to the finish line on Thursday morning. Four more boats are expected to follow him. The last to arrive should be the French-Italian Alessandro di Benedetto, who still has almost 2400 nautical miles to go with his boat "Team Plastique". On Wednesday, the humorous di Benedetto noted in his logbook: "I hoisted my Code Zero sail a few hours ago, but the winds are shifting like crazy. I was expecting easterly winds, but instead I got almost every other wind direction: North, south-east, south, south-west, west and now just north-west."
After Jean Le Cam and Mike Golding, the Swiss Bernard Stamm has now also reached the finish line with his "Cheminées Poujoulat". Stamm had been disqualified for not accepting outside help, but had decided to continue the race anyway. For the 49-year-old, his participation had turned into an emotional rollercoaster ride after equipment problems and the failure of his hydrgenerators. After two attempts in the 2008/2009 and 2000/2001 Vendée Globe editions, the summit of the solo sailors remains unclimbed for him on his third attempt.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
