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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.