GB sailors team up to beat rivals

Golding and Caffari will share their expertise

British teams Aviva and Ecover are to develop and test their boats together to boost their 2008 Vendee Globe hopes.

Aviva's Dee Caffari and Ecover's Mike Golding say their "technical alliance" could give them an edge over rivals in the solo non-stop round-the-world race.

Golding said: This is a new departure for us and one that I believe will reap longer-term rewards."

Caffari claimed: "It will give both our campaigns an added dimension that could give us an advantage over our rivals."

The Vendee Globe has, to date, been dominated by French sailors, who have won all five contests.

Caffari, a new recruit to the Open 60 class, is aiming to become the first woman to sail around the world in both directions.

Golding was the first man to accomplish the feat and is Britain's most successful solo sailor with extensive experience in Open 60s.

Their relationship goes back to 1999 when Golding gave Caffari her first job in professional sailing.

Golding added: "The support that we can offer Dee and her team will also serve to further develop our technical advantage over many in the fleet.

Golding's new Open 60 vessel is currently under construction in New Zealand.

It is anticipated that the new Ecover and Aviva vessels will begin two-boat testing in early 2008.