Ecover and Casto in battle royal for 2nd

by Susan Preston Davis/Susan McKeag on 17 Nov 2001 Mike Golding has just called in to his shore team to tell of the incredibly
close racing between ECOVER and Casto-Darty-But as they make their way
towards the finish of the Transat Jacques Vabre.

'We are still neck and neck with Casto who are just off to the west of us
though they aren't visible now' reported Golding. Just after the call
the latest position report confirmed just how close the pair were: with
Casto just taking the second place spot just half a mile ahead of ECOVER.
Sill Plein Fruit is the current race leader 74 miles ahead.

Co-skipper Marcus Hutchinson echoed Golding's words when he spoke to Race
HQ 'For the last 24 hours we've been stuck to Casto-Darty-But, and for the
last 12 we've been sailing side by side, separated by half a mile. In these
variable conditions, it's quite extraordinary to have a boat so nearby. In
the last squall we lost them but I know they're not far away'

Golding went on 'We've been in typical Doldrums conditions - strong
headwinds then very light, and a few very, very heavy thunder squalls and
heavy rain. But it looks like we're out of the worst of it now, the
barometer is going up so we hope we're out of the Doldrums zone. Looking
at the rest of the fleet it is pretty obvious that any one of 4 or 5 boats
could take second - but it's still very feasible for us to catch Sill.'

Asked about conditions on board Golding joked 'I reckon I've got a second
career as an electrician up my sleeve, I've done so much fixing of the
electrics! But generally we're in good shape and it's nice and warm'.

Mike Golding and Marcus Hutchinson are sponsored by ECOVER, producers of
natural cleaning and washing products for household and industrial uses.
ECOVER manufacture their products from their Ecological factory in Belgium.
Twenty years of dedicated research and development have enabled ECOVER to
produce washing and cleaning products, made from plant based ingredients
and minerals, with a performance equal to conventional cleaning products,
but which do not damage the environment and are safer for the skin.

ECOVER is the fastest growing brand of its' type and the sponsorship of
Mike Golding and Marcus Hutchinson in the Transat Jacques Vabre will
reinforce the natural link between ECOVER and sailing - harnessing the
power of nature to achieve powerful performance.


Sub sponsors of Mike Golding and Marcus Hutchinson ECOVER include:


HENRI-LLOYD For sailing and on-shore clothing

PEUGEOT For motor vehicles