English sailor Mike Golding finished his dissapointing but eductional Atlantic Alone race at 2040 Thursday nite i Charleston SC.
Golding had a difficult race right up to the finish. He selected the northern route when entering Charleston and fough contrary winds and currents. Class II's Magellan Alpah is approaching the finish along the same route. This does not speak well for her chances.
Atlantic Alone was both a race and a trial trip for Golding and Group 4. Does he have problems ? Yes, but not serious ones. He says: "The boat, the structure, the rig, all the major elements are fine." He had problem with several systems on the boat including the watermaker and cooking stove. Golding feels he learned from these experiences: ""You've got to be geared up and you've got to have all the spares."
In the end Golding figures that: "we've been a bit too 'Grand Prix' for the kind of event we're trying to do. So we need to de-tune that and be a little more 'belt and braces,' and I think we'll be fine."