Anglo-French rivalry has been fought out in many arenas but perhaps nowhere has the battle raged more fiercely than on the high seas.
And yesterday English sailors Ellen MacArthur and former fire-fighter Mike Golding were poised to deliver mighty blows to Gallic nautical pride as they took the lead in
the two most gruelling waterborne challenges known to man.
After 66-days at sea, Mike Golding - a heavy smoker who has not only been battling monstrous waves but who ran out of cigarettes some days ago - stole 23 miles ahead of his French rival Vincent Riou to lead the Vendee Globe solo round the world race.
The 44-year-old married father-of-one now faces the heady prospect of being the first non-Frenchman to win the race, widely considered to be the toughest in the sport.
With 5,000 miles to go he is now hoping to finish at the end of January at Les Sables d'Olonne in western France.
Just seven days ago Golding, aboard the 60ft Ecover, was more than 250 miles off the lead, badly hampered by a broken mainsail halyard.
Five years ago his dream of winning the race was shattered after only eight hours when his mast snapped. But yesterday he was said to be "chirpy" and appeared confident, if a little guarded.
"Clearly its a good result this morning but we'll wait and see how it pans out once we're through the trough," he said referring to the depression which has sent him powering into the lead on the back of mighty winds.
"We may come to a stop but it doesn't look like that is going to be the case," he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate but equally gruelling endeavour, his friend and sometime-rival Ellen MacArthur was four days, two hours and 45 minutes ahead of the solo round-the-world record time she is chasing set by another Frenchman, Francis Joyon, a year ago.
As she rounded Cape Horn in 30ft waves and 60knot gusts in her giant 75-ft trimaran B&Q to begin the final sprint north across the Atlantic to the finish line off the Lizard in Cornwall, she admitted to being strangely moved at putting the treacherous southern oceans behind her.
MacArthur's emotional reports on her website Team Ellen have earned her a loyal and passionate following.
Recording her feelings she said yesterday: "I cannot feel that I shall miss this wild and wonderful place but somehow the south finds a place inside you that you were unaware you had ... the albatross we see on this voyage are now numbered, their graceful flight and constant companionship will have to remain etched in my mind til the next time."
Weather conditions permitting and barring a calamity with their boats, the two sailors could now be set fair for a double celebration when they are reunited next month as the English prepare to savour a double victory over their old maritime rival.
- INDEPENDENT
Anglo-French rivalry has been fought out in many arenas but perhaps nowhere has the battle raged more fiercely than on the high seas.
And yesterday English sailors Ellen MacArthur and former fire-fighter Mike Golding were poised to deliver mighty blows to Gallic nautical pride as they took the lead in
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