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Come and see me at the show at the following
times:
Friday 7th - 16.20 - 16.50
Saturday 8th - 16.20 - 16.50
Sunday 9th - 16.20 - 16.50
Location: Knowledge Box
Subject: Mission Vendee Globe 2012
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Mike Golding is one of Britain’s most
accomplished and successful offshore sailors. A former career
firefighter Mike turned professional sailing following a second
place skippering “Group 4” in the British Steel Challenge in
1992/93. This success was followed immediately by a record breaking
west about circumnavigation with the same 67ft challenge yacht
Group 4 only this time solo. On a route following Sir Chay Blyth’s
pioneering circumnavigation Mike became only the second person to
complete this “impossible voyage” whilst at the same time setting a
benchmark world record time which remained his for seven years. A
dominating victory in the following BT Global Challenge in 96/7 led
Mike, his team and new sponsors Ecover, the Belgian environmental
cleaning products company towards the radical IMOCA 60 class, where
over the course of the past decade he has consistently occupied
either winning or podium positions. Such success has culminated in
Mike and his sponsors winning two IMOCA World Championships and a
FICO World Championship title.
Mike again made global news in 2006 when,
giving up his own prospects of winning a major solo around the
world race, he rescued fellow competitor Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss)
from his sinking vessel deep in the hostile Southern Oceans, this
daring and dangerous rescue of another competitor was broadcast
live around the world and the incredible story lead to the much
repeated channel 4 documentary “Ocean Rescue”..
Just 2 years later and leading the last major
solo around the world race the Vendee Globe in 2008, Ecover was
dismasted and forced to sail 1000miles to escape the Southern Ocean
with only a jury rig. This was a bitter blow for Mike who resolved
to make a change of direction to refresh his passion. On his return
in 2009 Mike launched himself into the radically different Extreme
40 Catamaran Sailing Series, inshore races, crewed and with two
hulls instead of one this was a very different challenge. After a
competitively tough first season in 2009, Mike recruited a talented
all British team for 2010, finishing 3rd overall in this
extremely tough series.
Awarded the OBE in 2007 for services to sport,
Mike is certainly not resting on any laurels - perhaps more
than ever after two years sailing on Extreme 40’s, he is now
hungry and passionate to compete again on the longest race
track on Earth across oceans with his IMOCA 60. Currently the team
are seeking a new title sponsors for the boat and team – partners
who can share the passion and single minded goal of winning
sailings greatest single handed challenge “The Vendee Globe
(2012)”.
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