Jean-Pierre Dick's Paprec-Virbac 2 is undergoing a spring refit in Lorient and is currently being repainted. A huge tent has been erected around the boat to allow this operation to go ahead. The aim is to limit the amount of dust and to avoid the area getting dirty. An extractor fan system is also in use to control the spread of fumes. All of the mechanical parts, the electronic and computer systems and deck hardware is being taken apart and carefully checked and cleaned. Repairs continue on the rudder system, which was the cause of Jean-Pierre's woes and the top part of the rudder is now practically finished.

Derek Hatfield confirmed by e-mail today that he has been forced to carry out a pit stop in New Zealand. The recurrent problems with the autopilot were not solved during the long stopover in Tasmania. He also lost the use of his wind instruments, making it impossible to use real wind mode on his Algimouss-Spirit of Canada. He explained too that he caught a bad cold just before leaving Tasmania and has been feeling extremely tired. The Canadian has therefore decided to carry out some work on his 60-foot monohull before flying home to Canada to see his friends and family and reflect on the best way to bring his boat back to her home port.

And Norbert gets a huge welcome in the Channel, tens of thousands of people out waving Austrian flags and cheering him to the heavens, welcoming him safely back to Les Sables d'Olonne as the sun starts to set on this wonderful Sunday, on Sedlacek's race and of course also this epic sixth edition of the Vendee Globe.

Gruss Gott the banners say and Norbert is content with his 11th place, he may be the final skipper to complete this course but he is looking to set a record for the most flares lit in the channel, he is a bundle of pent up energy, waving, cheering and loving every second.

Norbert is just looking for the outside end of the line, hard on the wind as he sails the last half mile of his race. He will cut the line in two or three minutes

Norbert is now around half a mile from the finish, which he should cross in the next ten minutes.  His speed has been fairly irregular over the past hour.  

It is lovely sight as Norbert the terminator closes down the final few miles of the Vendee Globe course, completing the full circle of life of this remarkable race. His yellow and black Nauticsport Kapsch is picked out brillantly in the evening sunshine, heeling gently at times and picking up speed, but the sea is glassy smooth with just a few wind lines now. He has slowed as he gets to within a few miles of the line, but the breeze is blowing offshore and he will have to tack at least once still to get there. It is not going to be a fast finish for Norbert.