And Cali has entered the canal, has been reunited with his little son Hugo, two and a half, and the cheers are just enormous, thousands of people lining the walls of the canal. He is dancing around like mad, acknowledging the cheer and the warm, warm welcome. Flares? Plenty of them, the first are let on the bow as Cali waves to the world as he enters the home port of Akena Verandas.

The sea walls are two and three people deep the whole way along, there is not a space to be had, and on the water you could walk from one side to the other....it is just incredible.

"Simply a great pleasure. I've sailed aboard a boat I love. It's not me, who is extraordinary, but the boat. I owe the boat this seventh place.  The four year campaign begins now. I want to be aboard a more modern boat that I know perfectly well next time. "

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.