On board Safran. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
Aviva. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
by SailRaceWin, with additional information from Vendée Globe media
Marc Guillemot and Safran
The ETAs are running very tight! At present it looks as though Safran will finish between midnight and 2am GMT on Monday morning, i.e. *just* within the 50 hours after Roxy needed to clinch third place in the Vendée Globe. (Safran has a greater time redress than Roxy, by 50 hours, to adjust his overall time for the race.)
Whatever the result, Marc Guillemot (aka Marco) will have made an exemplary trip, not only standing by two other boats in trouble, but sailing the last 1,000 miles without a keel on his own boat.
Further, Marco has insisted on the company of Jean Le Cam, Roland Jourdain, Kito de Pavant and Yann Elies, his fellow competitors who were not so fortunate as him in being able to finish the Vendée Globe, for Safran's trip up the channel into Les Sables d'Olonne.
Dee Caffari and Aviva
Dee Caffari dreaming of the finish on board Aviva. Image copyright Dee Caffari/Aviva/Vendée Globe.
Meanwhile, Dee Caffari (Aviva) is closing in on Brian Thompson on Bahrain Team Pindar, although unlikely to finish before him. Both will cross the line within about 24 hours of Safran's finishing time.
When Dee Caffari completed her epic voyage on Aviva singlehanded around the world against the winds the completion of her voyage was overshadowed somewhat by its coinciding with the leg of the last Volvo Ocean Race arriving in Portsmouth after storms which had taken the life of one sailor and led to the loss of one boat (the crew of Movistar having successfully transferred to ABN AMRO 2 prior to the storms in which their boat was lost).
It is very much to be hoped that Dee Caffari's achievement, also sailing handicapped with a mainsail in tatters, will be honoured for her successful completion of dual single-handed sailing voyages around the world in both directions. Aviva will be completing this Vendée Globe in the top six placings in a race that has seen the elimination of more than half of the competing boats.
More Images of Sam Davies and Roxy's Entry into Les Sables
Roxy and entourage prepare to enter the channel leading in to Les Sables d'Olonne. Image copyright Jacques Vapillon/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
Roxy and flotilla in the channel of Les Sables d'Olonne. Image copyright Jacques Vapillon/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
Roxy at Les Sables d'Olonne. Image copyright Jacques Vapillon/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
Spectators line the shore to greet Sam Davies and Roxy. Image copyright Jean Marie Liot/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
A boat full of Roxy fans. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
Sam Davies at the press conference. Image copyright Jean Marie Liot/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
Sam relaxes with a beer. Image copyright Jean Marie Liot/DPPI/Vendée Globe.
Vendée Globe
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