In a few minutes, Arnaud Boissières will be sailing into the harbour in Les Sables d'Olonne aboard Akéna Vérandas after completing the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe.  We will bring you his first words shortly...

And Arnaud Boissieres takes seventh place in the Vendee Globe punching the air and looking just deliriously happy, crossing at 14h35m 50s GMT

Jumping feet into the air, jubilation and relief, and his mum and dad are smiling broadly, blowing kisses to Arnaud.

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...

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.

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.

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.