CATCH UP TIME FOR GOLDING

by Mike Golding on 31 Dec 2000 For the first time Mike Golding and Team Group 4 are in the same weather
system as the second group of boats in the Vendée Globe race. This is
good news for Golding as he enters this system he is enjoying average
speeds today of 11.5 knots while the boats in this group ahead are very
slow. This will give Golding a chance to make up some serious miles on the
fleet. According to the official rankings at www.vendeeglobe.com Golding
was doing 11.6 knots this morning at 0701 and was 665 miles behind
Frenchman Joe Seeton on Nord Pas de Calais - Chocolats du Monde. 13th
placed Seeton was doing 4.33 knots.

In a brief call to his shore team Mike Golding this afternoon reported that
he was in good spirits particularly and feeling very motivated with the
news of the boats slowing ahead! An unofficial number-crunching exercise
reckoned that he had made about 120 miles on the race leaders during the
time that they too had been slowed right down (they are now beginning to
pick up speed again). All is well on board and he is making good progress
sorting out the technical problems with both the water maker and the
generator.

Contact :
MPR
Susan Preston Davis/Susan McKeag
Tel: + 44 1489 789111
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