Mike Golding © Photo Marek slodownik
Mike Golding © Photo Marek slodownik
Golding issued a short statement to the press: "It is with much sadness that I have to announce my retirement from the 1998-99 Around Alone race." By this announcement he officially withdrew from the whole competition. He did it after full inspection of his boat, which hit ground rounding Cape Reinga on New Year's Day.
Mike Golding © Photo Marek slodownik
After discussions with Owen and Conq, Golding was convinced that trying to continue would be extremely irresponsible and dangerous with the existing keel, and it was impossible to replace the keel blade in time for the start of Leg 3 scheduled on February 6, 1999.
Team Group 4 © Photo Billy Black
Golding was devastated by the reality of withdrawing from the race, but his team was already planning to ship the boat back to France, where the boat was built. There, the boat would undergo complete refit as well as the keel replacement. Golding new plans were to turn his full attentions to preparing for the Vendee and some other races. Golding had won the first leg and was expected to extend his overall Class I lead before he damaged his boat only 200 miles from the finish line.
Team Group 4
Place |
Skipper |
Boat |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Dist. to go |
Speed |
Dist. to first |
Time |
1 |
Soldini |
Fila |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Thierceli |
Somewhere |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Autissier |
PRB |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Hall |
Gartmore |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
Konioukhov |
Mod.Univ.Human. |
47 54S |
120 39E |
2607 |
7.6 |
2607.4 |
2140 |
6 |
Golding |
Team Group 4 |
Retired |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Place |
Skipper |
Boat |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Dist. to go |
Speed |
Dist. to first |
Time |
1 |
Mouligne |
Cray Valley |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Garside |
Magellan Alpha |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Van Liew |
Balance Bar |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Yazykov |
Wind of Change |
Auckland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
Saito |
Shuten-dohji II |
45 08S |
145 39E |
1567 |
7.6 |
1566.5 |
2144 |
6 |
Petersen |
No Barriers |
44 43S |
143 16E |
1657 |
7.8 |
1657 |
2144 |
7 |
Hunter |
Paladin II |
45 35S |
133 59E |
2053 |
6.9 |
2052.5 |
2144 |
8 |
Davie |
South Carolina |
48 28S |
104 37E |
3280 |
6.1 |
3280.3 |
2144 |
9 |
Stricker |
Rapscallion III |
Retired |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Copyright © Richard Konkolski
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