"It is lovely to be back in the UK and today I was able to catch up with some very special people locally. The morning started early as I joined Julian Clegg on the morning breakfast radio show at Radio Solent. From here I went to school assembly at Alverstoke Junior School. I had a very special person to return. Sizzles the bear is the only bear to sail around the world in both directions and he returned to the children at school where he is resident in reception. The children asked questions and showed me their work they had done as they followed Aviva and I around the world on the Vendee Globe.  The afternoon allowed me to keep the washing machine going and slowly unpack from being away for so long before appearing live on Meridian TV. Tomorrow I am returning to Leeds Met Carnegie for an assessment following the physical exertion of the race. I am looking forward to having my body checked by physios."

Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message yesterday evening

"Today I leave France and head home for the first time since my arrival in Les Sables D'Olonne. I am very excited and yet quite sad to be leaving a finished chapter of my life behind. This really is now the end of an 18 month project.  My final few days in France have been wonderful and it began by greeting Arnaud Boissieres (Cali) sailing on Akena at the end of his race. We share a special bond after spending so much of our race sailing together and it was fabulous to see him home and get a huge welcome as the local boat and sailor in the race. The day was busy as I headed to Paris to meet Sam Davies for an interview in French on National French TV. Thankfully Sam's fluent French helped me out loads. Yesterday was a day for the local Vendée region and it began with a visit to the Sodebo Factory. They are the race partners and make the greatest pizzas. I saw how they are made and realised just how big the Sodebo empire is. It was a dream come true for me to have lunch with Sodebo food and I would like to thank them for great hospitality and of course the fantastic food. In the afternoon I went back to school and went into the class at the College Jean Monnet that had followed Aviva in the Vendee Globe Race. The children had prepared a presentation of all the work they have done covering languages, geography, science and art. It was lovely to be met with such enthusiasm and I signed many posters. I was also able to return Gully, the Seagull who completed the race with me onboard Aviva and who was a present from the children. The evening was fun as Cali and I were on TV Vendée. We did the show together before the race and so it was great to do the same again and he is always very patient with my French and I must say his English has improved loads during the race as we have communicated often, him in English and me in French. I am still quite tired and I know it will take time to recover from the race but I am pleased to be going home to sleep in my bed and use my bathroom."

Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message sent yesterday evening

Based on this morning's weather charts and positions, Météo France has come up with the following ETAs for the next three boats.

- Toe in the Water: between 09h00 and 18h00 GMT on Thursday 26th February
- Great American III : from Thursday 5th March to Saturday 7th March
- Raphael Dinelli : between 9th and 11th March

Rich Wilson, Great American III: "Heading away from France, trying to cross high pressure ridge, after that, you have to look at the weather maps to see how long this could take, a high pressure system comes in very far north to give ne winds from here to France."

" Frustrating does not describe what I feel."

Based on this morning's weather charts and positions, Météo France has come up with the following ETAs for Steve White and Rich Wilson.

- Toe in the Water: between 03h00 and 18h00 GMT on Thursday 26th February
- Great American III : from 00h00 GMT on Thursday 5th March to 00h00 on Saturday 7th March
 

"Weather patterns are not promising. AS soon as we get to the high to wrap around, it dissipates, and a huge high starts to come in from far nw, giving us ne winds.  Disappointing, to say the least. Just trying to get north, to get into flow of west to east systems. See no solution to the east, even though that is the direction of France.  Couldn't get into bunk last night for sleep, got some at chart table, must have, because woke up to find boat aback, laying over on its side about 50 degrees, keel on wrong side, etc. Frequent wind shifts, I'd been keeping up with them with the pilot, that's why i didin't go into the bunk, but obviously missed the last one in my fatigue."

Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message