The battle of the Brits will be concluded tonight as Mike Golding and Ellen MacArthur approach the finishing line of the Route du Rhum with just a few miles separating them.

After racing more than 4,000 miles across the Atlantic, MacArthur's Open 60 Kingfisher was 60 miles ahead of Golding in Ecover with 500 miles still to race to Point de Pitre in Guadeloupe.

Both were racing without their damaged spinnakers but Golding was achieving a better speed than his Solent rival, setting the scene for a riveting finale.

"I've made some gains to close the gap but it might not be enough," Golding told the Daily Echo yesterday.

"If I hadn't had to spend all that time up the mast dealing with the spinnaker, the gap would be smaller but I was up there for two hours and lost speed."

Climbing the mast proved frightening, he admitted.

"It took ages and it was scary. I spent a long time at the bottom messing about with the rig - it had been replaced and I could not work out how to use it and you do not want to go up the mast unless you are sure. I also had some fear after my experiences in the Southern Ocean in the Vendee but once I was up I was fine."

Despite this setback, Golding remains confident he can beat MacArthur.

"I still think I can win it. Ellen and I have traded places at the front more times than I can remember and although this is the worst deficit I've had in the race, there is still time to get ahead. She has sailed an immaculate race and she has a good boat. We are likely to set a new record and the monohulls look set to beat the multis for the first time. Even if I come second, I will be very pleased but it would be good to beat Ellen."

The rivalry between the two has given the traditionally French-dominated event a dramatic twist and MacArthur is desperately keen to stay ahead.

"We are not as fast as Mike but it's okay," she said

"I think it's a bit early to give an ETA. Right now I'm pretty stressed trying to stay in front of Mike and I'm not thinking at all about an ETA."