HAMPSHIRE skipper Mike Golding has crashed out of the Vendee Globe race just hours after taking the lead.

The 48-year-old from Warash had taken an overnight lead in the 24,000-mile singlehanded round the world race but disaster struck just before 6.50am this morning after his yacht Ecover 3 dismasted.

Golding, currently 830 miles south of Cape Leeuwin, Australia, said: “I was below deck when a squall came through with winds of 55knots. “I had the main with two reefs and a reacher and had been like that for two hours.

“Overnight we had winds of up to 45k so I had two reefs and a staysail and then changed to the new configuration in the early morning.

“It basically went from being a near gale to a hurricane, and the mast didn't like it."

Overnight Golding had managed to secure a 30-mile lead over second-placed Paprec Virbac 2 after 36 days of racing.

“I was just getting into my jacket and going out on deck when the boat rounded up and then heeled right over,” he said.

“I heard a bang and immediately went back below and waited until the noise had stopped.

Click here to see Mike talking about the moment his race ended

“The whole rig is down, there is not even a stump left.

“Once everything had settled down a bit I went back out and the mast was lying across the deck and was acting as an anchor. “When things stopped moving about dramatically I set about cutting off the rig.

“There is some superficial damage to the boat, but nothing major.”

The disaster almost certainly means Golding will be forced to retire from the race.

It is a huge blow for the singlehanded sailing veteran, who came third in the race four years ago.

“My options now are controlled by what I can set up as a jury and unfortunately I don't have much left,” he said.

“I am about 970nm from Perth and Fremantle, so whatever the deal is I will have to cover some 1000-odd miles, somehow.

“I managed to save the boom but have lost all my sails, other than storm staysail, but this will probably fit and then I will how to work out how to fly something off the back of that.

“But whatever I do, I will only be able to reach and will not be able to go up or downwind.

“I am gutted. But there is not much I can do about it.”