And Brian is making ready for his final tack up on the deck of  Bahrain Team Pindar, making eight knots now as the sun disappears for a few minutes. So four different designers for the top six boats, two Farr, two Finot Conq, one VPLP/Verdier and this powerful Juan K design.

And we are alongside Bahrain Team Pindar now on a perfect morning to bring Thompson's race to an end, he can see Les Sables d'Olonne bathed in the early sunshine and is about 3 miles from the line, making just over 7 knots. Brian's wife and family are alongside in the RIB with Andrew Pindar at the moment. The spectator fleet are in order, Brian has been on to the bow to make preparations for his final manouvers. He will be relieved to see the line and has done a great job to bring this boat successfully to the finish in fifth position. There is a small chafe mark at the back of his mainsail but otherwise the boat looks in OK shape. One reef in and solent, going nicely, heeling at times to the breeze.  A morning Brian will cherish forever, rewarded with perfect weather. And the crowds were gathering just as we came out.

Brian is five miles from the finish. Sun is just risen over the horizon and is starting to warm the icy morning air. Seas are flat and the breeze is about nine knots. Thompson has confirmed he has a broken keel pin so is nursing his boat to the finish.

Brian Thompson on Bahrain Team Pindar is making 8.81 knots and was 15 miles from the finish line at 0605 hrs GMT (0705hrs local time), so his ETA at the finish line is now around 0800hrs GMT (0900hrs local time).

"This is an incredibly emotional moment. There have been many great moments throughout the race, particularly those I spent alongside Yann Eliès. After a voyage with so much emotion and excitement, my mind is full of memories. And I’m going to be on the podium! I don’t know what I can say, except that it’s amazing, a truly great moment. It’s also in some ways down to Samantha Davies too. We were so close sailing alongside each other. That motivated me and her too to fight to the finish and encouraged me to find what it took to complete the race without a keel. Since this morning, time was slipping by for third place. On top of that, I was surrounded by Brits and didn’t want them to get ahead. I really worked hard at sailing the boat today. I thought that what Bilou did without a keel was incredible, but these boats are really very stable. I would never have thought that it would be possible to finish without a keel and I don’t want to go through that again. I’m really looking forward to savouring this Vendée Globe with my family and friends. As for next time, I don’t know. The Vendée Globe isn’t something you decide to do just like that."

And despite the fact it is 2.53 in the morning the crowds are lining the canal in big numbers and making a lot of noise, on the foredeck now are Bilou, Kito and Jean Le Cam and Yann Elies is beside them in a Zodiac