Almost two hours since the first Open 60 slipped her lines, the last sailor to leave — Roland Jourdain on Veolia Environnement — was given a huge cheer as he set off after the 29 other boats down the canal. Sam Davies was the final Brit to depart, looking relaxed and happy she jumped around Roxy to wave goodbye from every angle, and the popular female skipper was given a tremendous send-off by the spectators packed along the docksides.

The deserted pontoons, which for the past month have been a hive of activity, are now the quietest part of Les Sables d'Olonne...

With today's weather and sea state not as severe as predicted, and just a handful of competitors yet to leave the pontoons in the race village, there is now a mass waterborne exodus from Les Sables d'Olonne. Besides the large sponsors' craft, it seems every ferry, fishing boat, RIB or pleasure craft in the area has been called into service and is now heading for the start area, with thousands of spectators expected to see the Vendée Globe away on the water.

"What can I say, I'm about to set off around the world, and it says it all, doesn't it?" Sébastien Josse perfectly summed up the mood of this very special morning, torn between a smile and a tear, thick with emotion. At 9h20, he grabbed the helm as BT was leaving the dock, after having spent the last moments ashore with his team and family, exchanging looks that said more than words could ever express. Totally focussing on the challenge that awaits, Sébastien welcomed visits by his friends titleholder Vincent Riou, Jérémie Beyou and Isabelle Autissier, who perfectly knows what a Vendée Globe does to one's emotions. She approached Josse, kissed him on the cheek, did not utter a single word, smiled and left.
 

Alex Thomson was the next of the British skippers to leave the dock. The emotions of the day were clearly visible as Thomson fought to hold back the tears as his father cast off Hugo Boss's lines, with but was smiling and waving to the crowds lining the canal as he sailed out of port with Sir Keith Mills and Shirley Robertson onboard.

The ever-professional Mike Golding was clearly itching to get on with the job in hand, and calmly set off with Ecover 3, assisted by Bruno Dubois of North Sails France and the Ecover shore team. The team even had time to retrieve an errant bottle of Ecover product which had dropped into the sea!

Before leaving, Brian Thompson enjoyed some relaxed time with his family, playing with his children in the cockpit of Bahrain Team Pindar. Family and friends have decorated the coachroof of the boat with messages for Brian, whilst his children have added their handprints to accompany him on his journey

British skipper Dee Caffari is the first sailor to cast off the dock at Les Sables d'Olonne. She and Aviva were sent off by Race Director Denis Horeau and Philippe De Villiers, president of the Vendée region, as well as a host of supporters.

While Dee Caffari and Mike Golding were doing some final interviews with the BBC, with over three quarters of an hour to go before they cast off, Derek Hatfield was giving the deck of his 60-foot one final brush, while Jean-Pierre Dick was welcomed like a rock star by a crowd of supporters wearing the blue colours of his sponsors. So many different ways to get ready for a three month voyage around the world.