Mike Golding reflects 12 days after finishing the Vendée Globe 2012-2013
by Mike Golding 18 Feb 2013 19:58 GMT
18 February 2013
Mike Golding on Gamesa finishes the Vendée Globe 2012-2013 © Jean Marie Liot / DPPI
Dear Supporters
It's been 12 days since I finished the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe and at last my sleep patterns are beginning to return to something approaching normal – though I am still requiring catnaps in the day. The out-of-condition legs are strengthening daily but my upper body, which had been in a constant workout for 88 days, aches from the absence of the tough physical regime. I am heading back to the gym to let the muscles recover more gradually and hopefully with less discomfort.
Another residual symptom is the tough skin on my hands and feet; it's dry and hard as leather during the day, but when I shower or bath the skin turns white and melts. Basically there's a general discomfort in recovering and I know it's going to take some time yet, probably months, to be symptom free. This is normal following a Vendée Globe...
Still it is great to be back at home. I'm looking out over the River Hamble, on a bright, spring day enjoying the warmth of central heating and with all the comforts I have missed for three months now readily to hand.
Rumours of my retirement are premature! Sorry but at 52 I am still way too 'young', fit and fundamentally competitive to retire. I simply would not know what to do with myself! What is true, however, is that I don't plan to do the Vendée Globe in 2016 and my focus may ultimately move away from the IMOCA class. For 16 years the Vendée Globe and IMOCA have been my primary focus and perhaps it's time for a change.
For now, options remain open. We still have our Owen Clarke Design IMOCA 60 as well as an Extreme 40 and if we can assemble a competitive project in either direction, we will.
Personally I would like to participate in the Transat Jacques Vabre in November this year and maybe even the solo Route Du Rhum in 2014, but in these challenging economic times this may well be tough to realise.
Thanks to the Team
It seems quite unfair to me that I receive the majority of the congratulations when so many others deserve recognition for their part in our successful completion of the Vendée Globe. Whilst the Vendée is a solo race, it would not be possible or visible without the support of the team that surrounds the project.
On the technical side, Gringo (Graham) Tourell led the support team; his enthusiasm and optimistic nature kept us on track even when the chips were down. For instance - just when I thought the race was over for me because of the problems with the hydro-generators and insufficient fuel to make power to the finish, Gringo chirpily suggested we actually go ahead and try a radical power shunting solution. In theory it was risky and we had considered it before, but on this occasion the optimism prevailed and, blow me down, it worked!
Mucky (Ian) McCabe our 'in team' boat builder did a superb job of ensuring that so many parts of the boat were both strong enough but light enough. It's a skill set that we have been very fortunate to have had close to hand and Mucky, who is hugely experienced in a variety of race projects, did so much more than his remit to keep our project on track.
Mikey (Michael) Ferguson oversaw rigging and deck gear, helping perhaps to create another first for me, a Vendée Globe race in which I did not actually have to climb the mast! That's a huge step forward for which I am most grateful...
And former Ecover project team member, Tim Carrie, joined our small team seamlessly in Les Sables for the pre departure preparation and return arrival, each time putting his general boat systems and diving skills into good use.
Shore side, Emily Caroe worked tirelessly, leading our communications project and ensuring we shared our story through TV, Radio, Press, Web, Facebook and Twitter. In this 24/7 environment and with multiple mediums, this was a huge job that she ably co-ordinated, working with Andi Robertson, ringing me for an up-date at dawn each day, and liaising with Laure Fay and Julie Royer to ensure our news was translated for our French supporters.
Sara Blackwell cheerfully supported the team in the dynamic pre-race logistics and worked with Ali Foord to prepare my on-board food programme. During the race Sara managed the hundreds of messages received and developed our schools project, fulfilling the enquiring minds of 9 and 10 year olds at three schools across the South of England.
Ali Foord who has worked alongside me since 2001 in a number of capacities, continued to manage the business accounts and kept the MGYR office afloat but also offered her considerable experience to the newer members of the team.
Andrea, my wife, has as always been a tower of strength. The Gamesa project would quite simply never have happened without her input both before with the project management and ultimately throughout the race. During the event this took the form of managing the team and business, but also in our daily conversations sharing the highs and lows which I was experiencing. Andrea really lived the event like me but along the way also handled the stresses of running the family home and her own busy management development business. What can I say... but I am a lucky man.
We also have a very long list of valued suppliers and contractors, each of whom had a serious responsibility to fulfil their specific part of the yacht preparation and each of whom in effect have become part an our extended team. Over the next few weeks, I hope to have the opportunity to personally thank each and every one of them.
I know how fortunate we have been to compete in the 2012 /2013 Vendée Globe under the sponsorship of Gamesa, a global wind power technology leader. When we signed with Gamesa, I could not believe the positive synergy between their business and our sport.
I would like to thank all those within the organisation, particularly Peter Pantlin, David Blunt and Emma Davies, who have followed and supported the sailing project. While our two year contract comes to an end in May, I hope that in the future, Gamesa will continue their involvement with sailing and capitalise further on the shared values.
And finally...
With the team and Gamesa now back in Ocean Village, Southampton, we can, at last, take a breather from the heady pace of the Vendée Globe. A chance for us to come together to reflect, analyse, and I hope, feel proud of all we have achieved over the past 18 months. Already we are starting to look forward... and who knows what the next few months will bring...
Finally, I have been reading through countless supportive messages received over the past week and re-reading those sent to me on the boat during the race. It really is heart-warming knowing so many followers lived the highs and lows of the race with us. It begins to bring home the real meaning of finishing a record-breaking third Vendée Globe.
Thank you for your continued support and here's to an exciting 2013.
Yours faithfully
Mike Golding OBE