Vendée Globe

February 22. 2009 at 15:25Final minutes...

And the skyline of Les Sables becomes more recognisable now as Cali is able to pick out all the familiar landmarks and buildings, Arnaud can't wait to finish now. He has just climbed the baskstay a little to get a better vantage point to find the South Nouch buoy and the line...two miles from the line

Akena Verandas picks up speed, heels to a big gust, Cali takes over the helm and will enjoy steering to the line..making 12-13 knots now, and of course the channel arrival awaits. When we came out two hours ago there were already hundreds of people out on the canal side.

Arnaud pumping the helm to keep his boat surfing...

February 22. 2009 at 15:15Approaching the finish

And Arnaud has done everything the media could want over the last six miles, he has been to the end of the bowsprit and flapped his arms like a seagull, and is waving and dancing for his big spectator boats which are laden with Akena guests ready for his perfectly timed and choreographed arrival. He has four and a half miles to go.

And being a nice Sunday afternoon and Cali being a local skipper there are many more sailing boats out this afternoon, he sails past them with three and a half miles to go, still making about 7-10 knots as the gusts and puffs come and go.

February 22. 2009 at 14:30Alongside Cali (Live coverage)

Thirteen miles from the line and we are alongside Arnaud with his mum Francine and his dad Bernard on the media boat with us. He looks relaxed and happy making a perfect approach, carefully targetting the line under full mainsail and gennaker. The breeze is probably 9-11 knots and he is making 8-10 knots just trucking along nicely with his mainsheet eased and the gennaker comfortably sheeted. He says he is looking forward to his oysters from Arcachon, his mum and dad are delighted to see him. His boat looks in good nick, some abrasion and chafe to the mainsail, but otherwise all A1 conditiion, including the skipper. 

Probably 20 media boats and spectator boats.  The sun is out but chilly, breeze up and down a bit.

February 22. 2009 at 10:19The Village open until Tuesday

The Vendée Globe Village will remain open until Tuesday evening (24th February). From Wednesday, a podium and press conference hall will be set up on the Place du Vendée Globe for the final skippers. Those still at sea will therefore be honoured in a fitting manner and will be able to address the public, who are expected to turn up in force to welcome them back to Les Sables in the coming weeks.

February 22. 2009 at 08:14Cali waiting patiently

Unable to enter the harbour in les Sables before miday because of the tide, Arnaud Boissières has been waiting off the coast since first light.  He is set to cross the finish line and enter the harbour immediately afterwards early this afternoon

February 22. 2009 at 07:39Diesel stink

"Today I inspected the diesel tanks and pumped 55 l diesel. I had to do it by hand as the electric pump flooded. By the end the hand pump was leaking, so I had to try to clean everything up, as the stench of diesel inside is dreadful. I also began to clean my fruit cans. I have around twenty of them and they have been in the bilge oil and water. The switch on the bilge pump wasn’t working, so I repaired that too. I thought about climbing the mast, but with the rain and gusts, it is not wise to get up there. It can wait for a few days, until I'm in the Doldrums. According to the latest forecasts, I could get through without any hold ups, but we shall see. Around 500 miles left to the Equator, so by Tuesday, we should be there!"

Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch) in his daily message yesterday evening

February 21. 2009 at 21:52Michel Desjoyeaux's projects

Before going off on holiday with his family, Michel Desjoyeaux has been talking about his future projects. The skipper of Foncia ,"I'm trying to find ways to use my experience to try to resolve problems in other sports. For example, I'm in contact with a sports federation where it may be possible to transfer our technologies. With Mer Agitée, I'd like to work too on new technologies to improve wheel chairs, making them of carbon, which is of course, much lighter. I've been thinking about this for a long time in particular with a friend who is in a wheel chair... I'd really like to help people working in that area. This is important to me and I've already come up with a few sketches… I'm also working with my partner FONCIA about what comes after 2009… »

February 21. 2009 at 07:55Erratic trade winds for Rich

"30 years ago I sailed downwind in the trades from the Canaries to Barbados.  I was impressed by how steady they were, in velocity, direction, and cloud  cover. Now, crossing these same trades, I'm impressed with how erratic they are, 12-28 knots of wind, direction varying by 25 degrees, cloud cover looking like an impending storm nearly always, It's totally different.  Last night, with 30+ knots across the deck, went to storm jib and 3 reefs. As I've commented before, our staysail is too big, and we can't carry it when we should be able to, so have to go down all the way, a huge leap to the storm jib. But with 30 knots, we were still making 10 knots, so it was ok. And it helped me get some rest to know that if a squall came through, I didn't have to suit up and jump on deck to deal with it. Actually got into the bunk for maybe the second time since Cape Horn, and slept for somewhere between 15 and 60 minutes, not sure, but it felt good. Of course at daybreak, the wind died, to 12 knots, and just when I was going into the bunk for nap #2, had to go put away the storm jib and roll out the staysail, so that pretty much wakes you up for the day.  Working on fluids, food, and rest. More of the same for the next couple of  days, then a very strange and complex weather scenario to try to negotiate."

Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message

February 20. 2009 at 19:00Latest ETAs

Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas) is set to arrive on Sunday. According to his latest calculations, he is likely to finish early in the afternoon. As for Steve White (Toe in the Water), he is looking foward to arriving back in les Sables d'Olonne on Tuesday. We will keep you informed here of their latest ETAs… Keep watching this space.

February 20. 2009 at 07:52Strong headwinds ahead for Rich

"35 knots across deck, staysail and three reefs in main.  May reduce to storm jib for night, too much sail now going across these seas. Tried storm jib earlier.  Slowed considerably, but  now more wind, we'll see. Difficult weather pattern in days to come with big lows and multiple highs separated and out of position.  Not looking favorable for us at the moment, with strong headwinds forecast for after we get across these strong trades.  Not looking forward to that.  Making about 9 knots. That's ok for the night I think. Maybe it will allow me to get some sleep.  The indescribable pounding has not stopped, of course. It has diminished a bit, and when the wind slows, we slow a lot, but maybe it will be better for the boat."

Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message