Vendée Globe

"Today I leave France and head home for the first time since my arrival in Les Sables D'Olonne. I am very excited and yet quite sad to be leaving a finished chapter of my life behind. This really is now the end of an 18 month project.  My final few days in France have been wonderful and it began by greeting Arnaud Boissieres (Cali) sailing on Akena at the end of his race. We share a special bond after spending so much of our race sailing together and it was fabulous to see him home and get a huge welcome as the local boat and sailor in the race. The day was busy as I headed to Paris to meet Sam Davies for an interview in French on National French TV. Thankfully Sam's fluent French helped me out loads. Yesterday was a day for the local Vendée region and it began with a visit to the Sodebo Factory. They are the race partners and make the greatest pizzas. I saw how they are made and realised just how big the Sodebo empire is. It was a dream come true for me to have lunch with Sodebo food and I would like to thank them for great hospitality and of course the fantastic food. In the afternoon I went back to school and went into the class at the College Jean Monnet that had followed Aviva in the Vendee Globe Race. The children had prepared a presentation of all the work they have done covering languages, geography, science and art. It was lovely to be met with such enthusiasm and I signed many posters. I was also able to return Gully, the Seagull who completed the race with me onboard Aviva and who was a present from the children. The evening was fun as Cali and I were on TV Vendée. We did the show together before the race and so it was great to do the same again and he is always very patient with my French and I must say his English has improved loads during the race as we have communicated often, him in English and me in French. I am still quite tired and I know it will take time to recover from the race but I am pleased to be going home to sleep in my bed and use my bathroom."

Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message sent yesterday evening

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