Newswire : Flags out for Raphael

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March 14. 2009 at 16:01Flags out for Raphael

And the Vendee flags are out for Dinelli as he enters the channel, a huge crowd lining both sides of the channel, enjoying a perfect sunny Saturday afternoon, it is a wonderful sight. Applause ringing in the air, cries of 'bravo Raphael!' horns, hooters and there is absolutely not a space to be found on the sea walls.

March 14. 2009 at 15:37Raphaël crosses the line

Raphaël has just crossed the finish. The official time will follow shortly

Raphaël crossed the line at 14h 34m 24s GMT after sailing 28,140 miles averaging 9.37 knots on the water. He sailed the theoretical distance at an average of 8.23 knots

Dinelli's kids and his wife bring a baguette to him on the bow as he is taken under tow for the channel, he is reunited with his family, two daughters

March 14. 2009 at 15:22Within sight of the line

Dinelli is within sight of the finish line, loving his homecoming and seeing friends and family and supporters for the first time since Nov 9th. He is joined now by a flotilla of local sailing boats as well to complete the armada. He has probably two and a half miles to the finish line, making around ten knots under his double reefed main and genoa. He looks very relaxed and happy, his boat looks in pretty good shape, the only real evidence of his 125 days at sea is the faded sponsors stickers on the mainsail. He will finish in less than 5 minutes.

Dinelli is on the bow of his boat, the figurehead for the Foundation looking for the finish line exactly and enjoying these final minutes of what is effectively his fourth Vendee Globe, his second successful finish.

Raphaël Dinelli is hand steering 20 metres from the line.

March 14. 2009 at 15:024 miles to the finish

4 miles from the line. He can see the whole of Les Sables in front of him. He will shortly be within sight of Le Nouch Buoy and the finish line. More than a dozen boats are out on the water around him with friends and family on board.

March 14. 2009 at 14:48Alongside Raphaël

A perfect afternoon. Raphaël is under medium gennaker with two reefs in the main. The wind generator is turning on the stern. Fondation Océan Vital is making 9 knots broad reaching. Raphaël is out on deck. Currently around 7 miles from the finish.

March 14. 2009 at 14:35Lining up for the finish

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.

March 14. 2009 at 09:11Just a few miles to go

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.

March 13. 2009 at 16:15Aviva out of the water

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.

March 12. 2009 at 08:31Steve back home and looking forward

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."