Warsash sailor Mike Golding crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe race last night (February 6) to become the first person to complete the challenge three times in the race’s 24 year history.
Mike Golding at the Vendee Globe finish line
Mike’s son Soren and wife Andrea greeted him in France as he came in sixth position after 88 days, six hours, 36 minutes and 26 seconds, crossing the finish line at 6.38pm (GMT).
He sailed more than 27,280 miles single-handedly around the world onboard the IMOCA 60 Gamesa arriving back at Les Sables d’Olonne, after setting off from there on November 10.
He said: “How does it feel to finish? It is a relief!
“I didn’t do this Vendée Globe, or any other, to stack up the numerical supremacy, I did them to compete, and to win it would have been a dream. I haven’t done that, but in pursuing that dream, I have made several others come true, including this one of having finished the race successfully three times. It’s an honour to hold that accolade.”
Pupils created a map and tracked Mike's progress across the world
Classmates of Soren at Hook-with-Warsash Academy have been mapping the route of Mike’s global sailing challenge and have sent and received weekly emails about the sailing trip.
The enthusiastic Year 5 pupils yesterday tracked his last 100 miles to the shore at the school in Church Road.
Soren’s best friends Ryan Tanner, 10, and George Hall said he was excited to see his dad.
Ryan said: “It’s a really big thing having your best friend as a famous sailor’s son. Mike’s set lots of world records. It’s such a big achievement. It’s really exciting to watch.”
Hook-with-Warsash pupils congratulate Mike Golding on global challenge
Nine-year-old George added: “Before Soren left he looked like he was really excited to be seeing his dad after 90 days.”
Pupil Elly Crowden, who is learning to sail, was impressed and encouraged by watching Mike’s journey. She even got to visit Mike and the boat before he set sail last year and said that he was an inspiration to people and was brave for doing the challenge.
The nine-year-old added: “I enjoyed it because I like Soren as a friend and I like adventures and sailing as well, so I was inspired by it.
Tia Norris, Jennifer Nice and Ryan Tanner use a globe to see how close Mike was to the finish spot
“I’ve got better at my sailing because of watching it. I would like to do it myself sometime so it has been exciting.”
Teacher Tom Earles said he hoped Mike would come into school again once settled back into Warsash to tell the pupils about the journey.
“It’s good to share and talk about it with the children. We can make so much of it educational because we can talk about the geography of where he is, the health of him, the technology and communicational aspects.
“Everything in school has a link with it, so it helps to put the subjects into context.”