Mike Golding

He held the solo record for sailing round the world westabout (the most challenging direction for circumnavigation) between 1994 and 2000.

He did one better in the next edition the BT Global Challenge 1996–7, taking first place with a new team of amateur sailors, again onboard Group 4.

Golding came seventh in the 2000–2001 Vendée Globe solo, non stop, round the world race having lost seven days to the dismasting of his Open 60, again called Group 4.

He rescued fellow sailor Alex Thomson in the Southern Ocean, then the yacht Ecover had a mast failure with them both aboard.

[5] In March 2007 Golding announced a technical partnership with fellow British sailor Dee Caffari to allow both the UK entries in the Vendée Globe 2008–9 round the world yacht race to work together.