Renewed sponsorship and a new weapon

Ecover back Mike Golding for the 2008 Vendee Globe

Ecover, the world’s largest producer of ecological detergents and cleaning products, has today announced its continued association with Mike Golding. This new partnership will take in the 2008 Vendee Globe, which will be Mike’s third participation in this pinnacle of singlehanded round the world racing.

“We have had a very successful association with Mike and his team over the past five years. We have raised our brand awareness substantially through this association and look forward to working together in building the brand further going forward, as well as achieving ultimate success on the water,” commented Mick Bremans, Managing Director of the Belgium-based Ecover.

The association has seen Mike crowned IMOCA World Champion for two years in succession and earlier this year both Ecover and Mike were awarded the prestigious FICO World Champion title – as sponsor and sailor.

Golding for his part is delighted to continue to work with Ecover: “Over the past five years we have been on some great adventures together and there are still many more to come. The Vendee Globe for me remains ‘unfinished’ business and with the support of Ecover, I am confident that we can deliver that top podium position,” commented Golding.

One of the main keys to the success of this ongoing business partnership is due to Jørgen Philip-Sørensen, Golding’s business partner and associate for over 15 years. “Over the past 15 years Mike has risen from being a skipper of an amateur round-the-world race to one of the world’s most respected offshore racing sailors. Offshore solo ocean racing is a discipline that he has more or less dominated for the past ten years and I look forward to working with him, his team and Ecover to ensure that we continue to lead in this field until the end of 2009,” commented Sørensen.

To coincide with today’s sponsorship announcement Golding and Ecover have also released full details of a new boat being designed by Owen Clark Design for the Vendee Globe 2008. This state-of-the-art Open 60 will be built at Hakes Marine in New Zealand and is due to be launched in July 2007.

“All in all it is a very exciting time for everyone at Mike Golding Yacht Racing - renewed sponsorship, a new boat, the Velux 5 Oceans just around the corner and another Vendee in two years. We are definitely going to be busy over the next year or so!” concluded Golding.