Vendée Globe

February 16. 2009 at 11:05Brian's first words

"It’s brilliant, what a day, what a beautiful day, sun’s out, great seas, it’s amazing

I’ve been fighting to stay ahead of Dee (Dee Caffari, AVIVA) the whole time and keeping my keel problem a secret, and last night the ram broke, and disengaged from the keel

I’m amazed I’ve done any sailing at all, because every day I spent my whole time down below fixing various things, electronics, weather equipment, I mean it’s just amazing

I’d rather have done the race with a bit more sailing involved but I’m pleased of myself for getting through all those things and not getting down and fighting every problem and somehow get to the finish line one way or another

20 minutes before I crossed the finish line, I thought I’ve only got to do one tack nothing can go wrong now, and just had a beautiful crossing of the line

I had a few problems in the bow, but I managed to pull up the repairs, the worst thing was getting stuck up the mast on Christmas day, that was very rough, bumpy and not Christmasy at all

She’s obviously had a mainsail problem (on Dee Caffari aboard Aviva), but peen pushing quite hard, the keel not working for the last two three weeks has been hard, no electricity either, and no weather information, the last three days I’ve had very little power, and the only thing working was the autopilot

5th is an excellent result overall, I’m quite happy about that, I wanted to be in the top five, but I hadn’t expected the race to be such a race of attrition, but that’s pretty good out of 30 boats"

February 16. 2009 at 11:00ETA Dee Caffari

Dee Caffari is now expected to cross the finishing line at around 13h00 GMT, but due to tidal conditions in Port Olona will not be able to enter the harbour channel until around 17h30 GMT  At 10h00, this morning she was 29 miles from les Sables d'Olonne sailing at a speed of 5.3 knots

February 16. 2009 at 10:20Brian on his way to the podium

Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) is expected to reach the podium at around 09h40 GMT

February 16. 2009 at 09:30And Brian finishes

Brian finishes on the bowsprit of his Open 60, punching the air with both fists, finish time is 08:31:55 GMT in fifth place, race time is 98 days 20 hours 29 minutes 55 seconds.

DISTANCE THEORETICAL : 24 840 MILLES
AVERAGE FOR THE THEORETICAL COURSE : 10.47 NOEUDS
 
REAL DISTANCE SAILED : 28 700 MILLES
REAL AVERAGE : 12.10 NOEUDS

Time difference from Michel Desjoyeaux:  14 days, 17 hours and  20 minutes

February 16. 2009 at 09:26In to the sun

And so Brian has made his final tack and heads into the sunshine steering from time to time, rolling out his bigger headsail with the Kingdom of Bahrain logo on it, just less than five minutes of his race, he is pointed at the line.  The race committee announce his imminent arrival in fifth place.

February 16. 2009 at 09:18Enjoying it

Brian is just enjoying steering the boat himself now, about 2.5 miles from the finish, keeping his Open 60 in the groove and powered up as the breeze rises and falls a little more as he gets closer to the coast. He is just checking his angles to the line as the sun comes back out from behind the cloud.

February 16. 2009 at 09:11The final tack

And the security boats start to make some space for Brian to tack now, in fact his solent has seen better days with the upper leech split for about three metres, and the luff tape separated and flapping in the breeze. You can imagine that releif will be Brian's overwhelming emotion when he gets across the line, and with his keel problem  this finish cannot come quick enough.

February 16. 2009 at 09:04Alongside Brian

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.

February 16. 2009 at 08:49Alongside Brian

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.

February 16. 2009 at 08:44Closing distance to the line on Bahrain Team Pindar

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.