Joining the very select group of 40 sailors that have their names inscribed on the Cape Horn Hall of Fame is renowned British sailor and honorary member of the Cruising Association, Mike Golding.
It was a night of celebration in Les Sables d’Olonne, France on Saturday 26 October 2024, as a who’s who list of global circumnavigators gathered ahead of the start of the Vendée Globe Race to applaud the latest six inductees into the prestigious Cape Horn Hall of Fame.
Mike Golding joins the celebrations via video link from the Cocos Islands©Barry Pickthall / PPL
Mike tuned in to the event via video link from the Cocos Islands, where he and his family are en route sailing from New Zealand to Europe. He summed up the feeling of all the inductees, saying, "It is a fantastic honour to be nominated and inducted into the Cape Horn Hall of Fame. There is no finer award than one created by your peers. I can't quite believe that my name will now sit alongside the many great names from the past and present."
For Mike, who has made 6 roundings of Cape Horn, three westward and three eastward, says his most abiding memory of the infamous Cape is the smell. "The smell of land, the smell of heather, and the smell of peat, all combined by the churning ocean. It is just the most amazing place," he enthused.
Mike Golding OBE
A 6-time circumnavigator (3 Eastward and 3 Westward), Mike Golding OBE is an IMOCA and FICO world champion who has consistently delivered winning performances in the most prestigious round the world and transatlantic events.
In 1994, sailing the 67ft steel yacht, Group 4 Securitas on a solo circumnavigation he established a world record for the fastest single-handed circumnavigation East to West. In 2000, he completed a solo circumnavigation West to East in the Vendée Globe; to become the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world in both directions. He went on to win the1997 BT Global Challenge in the same yacht.
Having competed in four solo Vendée Globe races and over 25 transatlantic races, Mike was awarded the Emile Robin and Royal Humane Society awards for his rescue of fellow solo sailor, Alex Thomson, from his yacht Hugo Boss, deep in the Southern Ocean. In 2007, Mike was awarded an OBE for services to UK sport.
Mike was appointed as an Honorary Member of the CA in 2022.
2024 Inductees into the Cape Horn Hall of Fame
Joining Mike as inductees this year are:
- Loïck Peyron - France
- Jean Le Cam - France
- Dr Roger Nilson - Sweden
- Francis Joyon - France
- Andrew Cape - Australia
In 2023, CA member Jeanne Socrates was inducted to the Cape Horn Hall of Fame.
CA Patron, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is President of the ICAH. Find out more capehorners.org
5 November 2024