There are probably 20 spectator and media boats out here, each sweeping in to take their turn at filming Roxy as she creams along. Davies looks relaxed and content, waving like a lunatic evry time she is lit up by a spotlight. Two very large spectator boats take their turn as well, getting in close within 20 metres of Sam as she surfs the last few miles of her Vendee Globe.

We are alongside Sam now in about 12 knots of wind, Rosy is under stsysail and one reef , and the flashguns are popping like Oscar night, Sam is waving and loving every second, making over 12 knots to the line.

Still 7 miles to sail for Sam about another hour at her current speed. Skies have cleared and there is a ceiling of stars now and a bright half moon. There are already a few boats out at Roxy. Quite choppy.

And we can see Roxy now already surrounded by boats. Flash guns already popping like Oscar night.

At 23H UTC Sam Davies has 18.5 miles to sail and is making 12.5 kts. She should cross the Vendee Globe Finish line at 00h30 UTC.

It's a very dark night and spectators boat have just left the harbour. Wind is about 12kts from north east. Slight swell but choppy.

Sam Davies on Roxy is making 12 knots passing about three miles off the Ile dYeu some 30 miles from the finish line at 2215hrs GMT 

"Port tack, heading east from Maceio, couldn't quite fetch the coast, so at the 100 meter line, I tacked to go east for about 25 nm or so, then tack back. Was still 20 nm offshore, but there was a
gigantic thrunderhead dead ahead, a wierd low showing on the grib file over land, and lightening winds in that area as well, so although we were within 5 degrees of fetching Recife, it seemed more prudent to bite the bullet  and head out here, then tack back and be certain that we will fetch.  Saw a sailboat this morning tacking out rfrom the coast as well, and a big container ship going north, staying off the 100 meter line also.  We've been hard on the wind tryhing to get up this coast since the huge storm off Uruguay, and we still couldn't find that extra few miles to be able to finally fetch. We'll see now if we can do it when we tack back in an hour or so."

Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message