Monnet to collect Group 4 Trophy at Southampton Boat Show
by Susan Preston Davis 8 Sep 2000 18:42 BST
PHILIPPE MONNET TO BE PRESENTED WITH GROUP 4 CHALLENGE TROPHY AND TO COLLECT £20,000 CASH PRIZE
AT SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW
Top French yachtsman Philippe Monnet will be presented with The Group 4 Challenge Trophy and will collect a cheque for £20,000 (approximately 200'000FF) on Friday 15th September at the Southampton International Boat Show on the Henri-Lloyd stand at 2.30pm (Stand E.18).
In June Monnet broke the record for sailing single-handed non-stop around the world, east to west, against the prevailing winds and currents.
The record had been set back in 1994 by top British single-hander Mike Golding in his 67 ft steel yacht Group 4. Golding's sponsors, the international security company Group 4 issued a challenge to anyone who could better Golding's record of 161 days 16 hours and 32 minutes, offering a trophy and a prize of £20,000.
Six years later 40 year old Monnet is the first to break that record. In his Open 60 yacht, Uunet, Monnet knocked 9 days 20 hours 38 minutes off Golding's record.
Congratulating Philippe Monnet on taking the world record, Mike Golding said: "As I know only too well myself, to sail around the world the wrong way, and to do it in an Open 60 and in such style, is absolutely fantastic - I take my hat off to you!".
Philippe Monnet is regarded as one of France's top sailors with many years experience - he covered many miles with the late Eric Tabarly - and has competed at the highest levels in both mono and multi-hulls. He is also one of the most titled rally car navigators of the Nineties taking the Paris-Dakar, Tunisia and Russia (Masters) and World Championship titles in 1999.
Mike Golding will be attempting to add yet another record to his career later this year when he and his latest Group 4 - a state of the art Open 60 - compete in the Vendée Globe the single-handed non stop round the world race which starts from Les Sables D'Olonne, France, on Sunday 5th November.