Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard brokerage

Vendee Globe Golding still battles with Josh Hall

by Susan Preston Davis on 1 Feb 2001
Mike Golding is still fighting a neck and neck battle with Josh Hall for 8th place in the Vendée Globe. It's been a
heavy night on board Team Group 4 and Golding sent the following report to his shore team:-

'I've had a hell of a night - trying to get through this trough and into the new system. I'm not absolutely sure I'm out of
it yet, but the wind is now coming from the right direction which is a good sign. For the last few days I've been on the
edge of this trough and actually been into it on maybe 3 occasions. Each time I've stopped and each time Josh has
moved forward and away from me. But last night I made a massive effort to try and break through. I went in and as
usual parked, but this time I stayed with it, really pushed the boat. I tried gybing and heading north which I hadn't
done before - that worked for about 5 minutes. I had the right wind direction but then I fell out of it again as it overtook
me. I had to have another go. I caught it again after 2 hours. It began to rain very very heavily, the wind shifted all over
the place and this time headed more north east and that immediately worked and the system moved a little too quick
for me and moved away and the rain moderated and the sky cleared. The normal gradient breeze set up again and I
was left to catch it up. It took me about an hour. This time it started raining heavily and the wind dropped - I must
have gybed the boat 15 or 20 times last night - mostly in light airs, so not terribly hard work, just a lot of things going
on. I started to make some progress and eventually I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was pouring
down so hard and as a result I was able to collect some water. I'm full of water now. Later in the morning I went up on
deck and had a shower and rinsed out some clothes so I've been able to use the rain quite usefully!'

'Right now it looks like I'm out. The net result is that I've lost a bit to Josh and a lot to everyone else. But it had to be
done - at some point we had to go through that. I reckon I've been within a stones throw of that system for about
three and a half days. The slamming that the boat took last night was worse than anything we've experienced on the
Vendée Globe. She was slamming on every single wave, not just every other one or every six waves. I've never come
across a sea that was so bad for a boat like this one'

'Anyway, I think I'm pulling away from the system. If that's the case it remains to be seen whether Josh has made it
through. Despite the loss it could ultimately be a nice gain if he hasn't and he had as bad a night as I had. That's it
for the moment - I'm having a bit of cereal and gonna get some rest and hang the washing out to dry!'

Related Articles

NYYC International Women's Championship update
Teammates and Competitors Join Forces The strength of bonds forged in competition is a common theme among the second group of skippers and teams invited to compete in the 2026 New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship.
Posted today at 2:22 pm
Vaikobi UK Finn Nationals at the WPNSA
Lawrence Crispin wins his first title since returning to the class Former Laser World Champion Lawrence Crispin won his first Finn National Championship after returning to the Class nine years ago, having previously won Weymouth Olympic week in the Finn in 1986.
Posted today at 2:02 pm
The Ocean Race Europe Video Preview
We speak to Phil Lawrence, Peter Rusch & Pip Hare to find out more The Ocean Race Europe will take place between 10 August & 21 September, following a debut event in the summer of 2021. The racing is in IMOCA yachts, the same as the Vendée Globe, but this time with 4 crew and an OBR who will document the action on board.
Posted today at 1:30 pm
Osprey Nationals at Mumbles
Some epic and at times fruity sailing in Swansea Bay With the terrible weather of recent Osprey National Championships successfully banished this time around the competing 36 teams were treated to some epic and at times fruity sailing in Swansea Bay hosted by the brilliant Mumbles Yacht Club.
Posted today at 12:55 pm
RS500 Rooster National Tour Gurnard
A familiar sense of déjà vu from last year Saturday morning at Gurnard Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight started with a familiar sense of déjà vu from last year: The wind just topping the feasible strength to start the RS500 Open and Club Championships.
Posted today at 12:05 pm
K1 Midlands Traveller Series at Rutland
The 'Beat Your Predicted Place' scheme is still proving popular Rutland Sailing Club were the hosts for the third of the Ovington open meetings in the K1 Midlands Traveller Series on 5/6th July 2025 which was shared with the F1 National Championships.
Posted today at 10:50 am
Sailing's Glitterati prepare for the Admiral's Cup
The depth and quality of talent is truly breathtaking. The 2025 Admiral's Cup is shaping up to be one of the most compelling editions in the event's storied history, featuring a glittering constellation of the sport's elite.
Posted today at 9:55 am
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde Day 3
Ole Schweckendiek leads ILCA 7 fleet into the final day The third and penultimate day of racing at the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup GER concluded yesterday in Warnemünde, Germany, with two new races completed by all fleets, except for the ILCA 6 silver group, which managed to complete only one.
Posted today at 9:32 am
Notts County Sailing Club Annual Regatta
Over 50 dinghies took part over the weekend There was a large entry for the Notts County Sailing Club annual Regatta sponsored by Sailing Chandlery with over 50 dinghies entered to the Commodore's Cup, National 12 Vintage Championships and Novice racing and 50 at the Saturday social evening.
Posted today at 9:22 am
British Dragon South West Championship
A spectacular warm-up for the 2025 Edinburgh Cup Torquay delivered a spectacular warm-up for the 2025 Edinburgh Cup, as 13 Dragon teams took to the waters of Tor Bay for the South West Championship, a two-day regatta packed with shifting breezes, tactical gambles, and top-class racing.
Posted today at 8:59 am