British solo racer Mike Golding will cross the Equator later today – his 22nd crossing in his sailing career. While he has had better passages through the Doldrums than he has experienced over the last 48 hours on the Vendée Globe, he has certainly had much worse. Having caught up some 200 miles on the race leader, and now feeling like he is again in touch with the ‘peloton’, he took time to briefly reflect.
"That [22] is quite a number isn’t it? I don’t count. For me it really just shows how lucky I have been. It’s a bit scary really to think it is that many!" Golding said with some 130 miles before he passes into the Southern Hemisphere.
"For sure the Doldrums can be heinous at times. I remember coming back on the 2000 Vendée Globe and it was bad, but this time has been relatively straightforward. I think I have only slowed significantly three times. In general it has been pretty easy, but I am looking forward to coming back across the other way!"
On his fourth Vendée Globe, Golding seems reasonably sure this will be his last solo passage south across the line on a round the world race.
"I think this will be the last time solo, but, no I don’t think it is the last time I will be heading in this direction. But I won’t rule out anything at this stage."
Leading the highly experienced group of three, comprising Gamesa, Dominique Wavre on Mirabuad and Jean Le Cam on SynerCiel, Golding affirms that the trio have sailed smartly through the Doldrums, but that they took an opportunity offered to them.
"You have to take the chances you are given and we had the chance to be more west and we made quite a good job of it together. Where we went was best. And I also think we have a similar sailing style here, how we did the crossing, watching the others [ahead]. You cannot afford to go chasing your tail and making sail changes all the time. If you do you can be in there forever. You have to find a nice sail plan which works for the averages, to survive the squalls but to keep going all the time. I think that is a different routine perhaps."
His conclusions on the race so far offer an interesting insight.
"For me it is good, all going to plan so far. It is interesting to see the number of boats which have already pulled out with technical problems, especially considering we are not even in the South yet. You would like to think the attrition rate will not be as high in the south, but if it is you could be looking at just seven or eight finishers. But, equally, you are also thinking that now it will be boats from this group [the top eight] who might be next to drop out. That really gives you pause for thought. I don’t want to be that boat. But does it change the way I will sail? Not a bit. It is about just keeping it all together.
"Looking ahead we are now into the south easterly trades and it will be a long, slow lift as the breeze rotates to the right. The high pressure is well to the south and there is big ridge off it which will be our next major obstacle, it might even be like the Doldrums again. We made a good job of the last one, I hope we can do the same.
"At the moment my only crisis is that I have butter everywhere as it melted in the heat!"
Golding is reviewing the Vendée Globe Jury's decision to apply a 30 minute penalty against him following an alleged infringement of the Sailing Instructions relating to the Traffic Separation Scheme rules.
From : Gamesa Mike Golding
"That [22] is quite a number isn’t it? I don’t count. For me it really just shows how lucky I have been. It’s a bit scary really to think it is that many!" Golding said with some 130 miles before he passes into the Southern Hemisphere.
"For sure the Doldrums can be heinous at times. I remember coming back on the 2000 Vendée Globe and it was bad, but this time has been relatively straightforward. I think I have only slowed significantly three times. In general it has been pretty easy, but I am looking forward to coming back across the other way!"
On his fourth Vendée Globe, Golding seems reasonably sure this will be his last solo passage south across the line on a round the world race.
"I think this will be the last time solo, but, no I don’t think it is the last time I will be heading in this direction. But I won’t rule out anything at this stage."
Leading the highly experienced group of three, comprising Gamesa, Dominique Wavre on Mirabuad and Jean Le Cam on SynerCiel, Golding affirms that the trio have sailed smartly through the Doldrums, but that they took an opportunity offered to them.
"You have to take the chances you are given and we had the chance to be more west and we made quite a good job of it together. Where we went was best. And I also think we have a similar sailing style here, how we did the crossing, watching the others [ahead]. You cannot afford to go chasing your tail and making sail changes all the time. If you do you can be in there forever. You have to find a nice sail plan which works for the averages, to survive the squalls but to keep going all the time. I think that is a different routine perhaps."
His conclusions on the race so far offer an interesting insight.
"For me it is good, all going to plan so far. It is interesting to see the number of boats which have already pulled out with technical problems, especially considering we are not even in the South yet. You would like to think the attrition rate will not be as high in the south, but if it is you could be looking at just seven or eight finishers. But, equally, you are also thinking that now it will be boats from this group [the top eight] who might be next to drop out. That really gives you pause for thought. I don’t want to be that boat. But does it change the way I will sail? Not a bit. It is about just keeping it all together.
"Looking ahead we are now into the south easterly trades and it will be a long, slow lift as the breeze rotates to the right. The high pressure is well to the south and there is big ridge off it which will be our next major obstacle, it might even be like the Doldrums again. We made a good job of the last one, I hope we can do the same.
"At the moment my only crisis is that I have butter everywhere as it melted in the heat!"
Golding is reviewing the Vendée Globe Jury's decision to apply a 30 minute penalty against him following an alleged infringement of the Sailing Instructions relating to the Traffic Separation Scheme rules.
From : Gamesa Mike Golding
