Friday, 24 September 2004
Vendee Globe 2004
The Vendee Globe is the world's most extreme yacht race, following a course through the planet's most treacherous waters, my main aim is to complete a non-stop circumnavigation and return safely to my family. Every finisher of this huge event will be a winner. My ultimate goal however is to finish first and become the first British sailor to win the 'Vendee'.” Says Golding.
The jungle drums are beating as the build up to the 2004 Vendee Globe begins in earnest. The stage is now set and Golding is ready for the challenge.
As quoted in the Times, if Golding also clinches the single-handed, non-stop, round-the-world race, the Vendee Globe - he will be the "greatest solo racing sailor in recent years".
Eight hours into the Vendée Globe 2000, when the mast of his Finot designed Open 60 came crashing down, Golding knew that for the dream to be fulfilled he would need to repeat all the work that had gone into that project again for the 2004 Vendée. To give himself the best chance of success, he needed a new generation Open 60 which would be built to comply with the latest evolution of the IMOCA rules and be competitive against the best of the rest.
Golding set his sights on winning the Vendee Globe eight years ago following his overriding victory in the BT Global Challenge. Still basking in the sunshine of his glory he selected for himself the ultimate of all circumnavigations – the Vendee Globe. Little did Golding realize the enormity of the task at hand, and now eight years on, and second time around, he will take on once again, what has now become his nemesis; when he crosses the start line on November 7th of the Vendee Globe 2004 and faces his demon head on.
“Even though I was the fourth fastest finisher and completed the race overall in 7th place there was something deeply unfulfilling about the racing when I had started eight days later than the rest of the fleet. It was the worst day of my life and in order to close the chapter I need to compete in the Vendee on equal terms with the fleet – to start when they start and to complete the course. Only then will I be able to move on.” Says Golding.
To Golding the Vendee Globe is a yachting trophy hankered for by the greatest offshore solo sailors with, no stops, no outside assistance and no handicap prizes. But there is an enigma around its attraction and it’s difficult to rationalize its appeal.
“It starts in a relatively unknown, French Atlantic coast, holiday resort in the harshest season of the year, winter, you depart and sail off on your own into some of the world’s most inhospitable oceans, potentially see no-one and nothing for nearly 100 days only to return to a relatively unknown, French Atlantic coast, holiday resort in the midst of the harshest of all the seasons. Yet it is the ‘Big One’ – the longest, the best, the hardest, the grimmest of all the yacht races around. Its an accolade to just do it and an even greater accolade to win it.” Says Golding.
