Raphaël is currently 8 or 9 miles from the finish. The sun is out and it is a perfect day on the water with a 15 knot NE'ly wind and slight sea. There are 8 or 9 boats sailing out to meet him and 6 or 7 media boats and Zodiacs. Several hundred people are already waiting in the harbour, so it looks like the crowds are turning up to welcome home the local hero.

This morning at 4h00 GMT, Raphael Dinelli was only 18 miles from the finish and his monohull Fondation Ocean Vital was sailing at 7.4 knots towards Les Sables. He is expected to cross the finish line later this morning and will enter the harbour channel this afternoon. We shall bring you more information about these times later this morning.

After her successful Vendée Globe race and a celebratory trip up the Thames through Tower Bridge, Aviva is now in need of some TLC and this week the refit period started in earnest. On Wednesday, the shore team removed Aviva’s mast and Thursday saw the keel taken off and the boat hoisted out of the water in Gosport.  Aviva will spend several weeks in the shed being taken apart and fully inspected. The key mechanical components will be sent back to their manufacturers to be serviced. Once all the checks and servicing has taken place, the team will put Aviva back together again in readiness for her next challenge – the Round Britain and Ireland all female record taking place in June.

Steve White is back in England after completing his Vendée Globe on 26th February. For the delivery trip on Toe in the Water he was accompanied by one of the soldiers benefiting from the services of the charity, Toe in the Water, which helps wounded servicemen. Steve was welcomed back to Gosport by Dee Caffari, Brian Thompson and Alex Thomson, who understand just how much of a personal achievement this was for Steve, whose budget was so much smaller than theirs. For White, it is great o be back in England, but "the work isn't over yet. In fact it's just beginning. As I get planning for the next Vendee Globe in 2012 our thoughts will turn to securing sponsors and building a new boat."
 

Raphaël Dinelli is expected in Les Sables d'Olonne on Saturday.

Norbert Sedlacek is due to cross the finish line on Sunday or Monday.

Work on Safran is due to be completed in late April. She is undergoing what is described as an "ordinary refit", apart from the repairs concerning the keel and mast. Her first keel was sent to a specialist company in Italy, where it will be fitted with a new head. Meanwhile, a new bulb is being built in Spain. It will all be put together in the Larros boat yard and is due to be delivered in late April. As for the repairs to the mast following the damage to the mainsail track, the whole surface was consolidated using composites and strengthened around the reefing points. The repairs to the mast will be carried out in France. The boat is undergoing a thorough check-up with everything being taken apart and examined, and if necessary replaced. To finish, the team will be giving the hull a coat of paint, which is going to take some time, as there is a huge surface to sand down. The goal is to finish by the end of April, after a refit lasting two months.