Vendée Globe

February 14. 2009 at 06:41Back to civilisation

"Just a couple of hours to go of this Friday the 13th. Seen two fishing boats out today and two cargo ships, they are my biggest worry at the moment, but so far no close calls. It is very strange coming back to civilisation. I have no idea at all about that is happening in the world. All I know, there is a new and better President of the USA, the economy is in the dumps and there has been snow in the South of England. Otherwise, it will be a big surprise to me. Normally I would read the paper every day and be in tune with events, but this race has taken over all my thoughts for the last 3 months and soon there will be a new world to adapt back into. Some of it will be great, like family, friends and hot showers. Some of it may be unwelcome, like traffic, pollution and noise.Even the apparently mundane, might hold new wonder. For instance, today I saw my first aeroplane fly overhead since the start of the race. It came straight over my head from the East, heading out across the Atlantic. I could not stop staring at it, it was amazing. As it flew directly over Bahrain Team Pindar in the bright, blue sky, its twin contrails streamed and swirled off its tail exactly like the wake of a ship. It was as if there was a sea above me that was mirroring the sea below, it was quite uncanny. It was probably something I would never normally pay attention to, and of course soon I am going to be alert to a whole new range of experiences, outside that of the sea, the sky and the boat.

Just 330 miles to the finish now and the sailing feels like I am on a lake after the rough waters I have been through lately. It is upwind sailing in 10-15 knots of wind, and will remain similar to this to the finish, so slow progress as I tack back and forth. The skies are mainly clear in the High Pressure and it does not really feel like February in the Northern Hemisphere yet. I am wearing a Musto beany hat and a few thermal layers, but nothing like the layers I wore in the Southern Ocean in it’s summer. I am hoping to finish Sunday before dark, that’s my goal and of course to stay ahead of my friend Dee who is close on my tail. Monday would be the latest finish, unless something goes awry. "

Brian THompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) in his daily message

February 14. 2009 at 02:14On board

Sam's family are on board now, her mum and dad Paul and Jenny and her sister Debbie, and her boyfriend Romain, all re-united for the cameras to a huge cheer from the dozens of boats out here, there are many people on board and it looks like the party has started.

February 14. 2009 at 01:57Celebrations begin

Sam is up on the foredeck now with the boat under the control of her technical team, the Roxy boys, with two appropriately pink flares lighting up the whole area as she starts the celebrations, dancing on the decks, looking up to the skies and loving the relief and the sheer joy that she made it, and her adventure has been so all consuming, and so fulfilling.

February 14. 2009 at 01:44Sam's time

So Sam's time is 95 days 4 hours 39 mins 01 sec WITH her redress, her shore crew are on board and the scrutineer will go on board to check Roxy's engine seals. Sam looks delirious, and no doubt exhausted, elated and will be sad her great adventure is over. She has sailed impeccably and shared her race widely and freely, without any pretension.  10.87 knots average on theoretical distance of 24840 miles.

February 14. 2009 at 01:35Sam finishes

And Sam Davies finishes the Vendee Globe, third across the finish line early on this Valentine's mornng, and incredible achievement, finishing at 00hrs 41 mins and 01 seconds GMT. Her Roxy boys shore team are on board immediatelyt hugs all round..

February 14. 2009 at 01:26Sam Davies ready to finish

Still a hail of flashguns lighting up the night sky, picking out her huge megawatt smile and her  famous boat Sam gets ready to finish her extraordinary Vendee Globe Her boat looks impeccable, a little rust around the solar panels on the deck, and she keeps trimming and working Roxy all the time as the puffy brreze brings her back upright, slowing from time to time. There is a constant cacophony of cheers and whistles. 500 m to line

February 14. 2009 at 01:24Two miles to go

Two miles to the finish line, and Sam is drinking in the last few minutes of her race, a huge smile on her face, as she contemplates crossing the line in third place, beyond her dreams when she left Les Sables 97 days ago on 9th November.

February 14. 2009 at 01:20Closing on the line

Amazing, amazing, Sam is permanently lit up now in the cockpit of the double Vendee Globe winning boat, a little touch of Hollywood at  sea at 0118hrs local time, the security boats trying to keep some kind of order, but all going well except for a few rogue washes!

February 14. 2009 at 01:15Alongside sam

Pretty crazy out here with spectator boats, Sam has just called the committee boat and she says she thinks she will be at the line in 15 minutes, four miles left of her Vendee Globe, she could scarcely contain herself when she spoke to them. Stil making 12 knots, well heeled in the puffs, with the mulitcoloured Roxy sails lit up by the lights, and every so often she picks out people she knows.

February 14. 2009 at 01:11Alongside sam

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.