Vendée Globe

February 22. 2009 at 16:24Reaction from the President of Akéna Vérandas

Christophe Chabot, Président of Akéna : We intend to carry on with improvements from one Vendée Globe to the next. Arnaud is an incredible lad and I'm pleased to see so many people out for him. He is aware of the luck he has and is always in a good mood. Nothing has been decided yet, but the next project which we hope will be with Arnaud, will be even bigger. He has understood our way of thinking and how we communicate...

February 22. 2009 at 16:10In the canal

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.

February 22. 2009 at 16:03Cali's first words

"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. "

February 22. 2009 at 15:50Cali to enter the harbour shortly

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...

February 22. 2009 at 15:33Arnaud at the line

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.

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