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9:13 PM Fri 20 Feb 2009 GMT
As the skipper of one of the three boats which are based out of Les Sables d'Olonne - along with Raphael Dinelli's Fondation Oc?an Vital and Nobert Sedlacek's Nauticsport-Kapsch - which was kept in the Vend?e port for many months before the start - Arnaud Boissi?res will be accorded a huge welcome as he returns to his home patch, due to pass the South Nouch buoy and the finish line some time on Sunday. With less than 226 miles to complete, these last few miles will neither be the toughest nor the easiest of his first Vend?e Globe but when he sees the familiar silhouette of Les Sables and its long sandy beaches, the last miles will certainly be some of the sweetest.
Cali - nicknamed after the charming but unluckly little black cartoon chick - has long been inspired by the legendary race. He originally comes from Arcachon, home of Yves Parlier and Titouan Lamazou. He suffered from leukemia 19 years ago and when he was sick came with his father to see the first race in 1989 to see the first race which was won by Lamazou.
That helped me in my fight against my illness. It allowed me in my head to get away from my room by following their adventure.'
Cali raced in the 1999 Mini Transat when terrible conditions decimated the fleet. His boat was dismasted, but he completed the race after a pit stop in France. He raced twice subsequently, finishing third in 2001. He also worked as a preparateur forYves Parlier and Catherine Chabaud and sailed with Olivier de Kersauson on his Oryx round the world race attempt.
Boissi?res has flat seas and light to moderate easterly winds for his final miles and this afternoon he was making more than eight knots. He had a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant when his rudder hit a plank of wood and it kicked up during the night.
Cali was greeted on today's radio broadcast from Les Sables d'Olonne by Dee Caffari who sailed in close company with Akena V?randas through the Southern Ocean.
Steve White's course has been rapid for the last three days but he now faces a slightly more complex weather pattern as he now approaches the high pressure area which protects Les Sables d'Olonne and the Bay of Biscay, but he has been able to regain over 100 miles on Boissi?res in the last couple of days and he should now arrive Tuesday, according to his current routing. He has been turning in close to 300 miles on each of the last two days and has been enjoying the quicker progress on his older boat. White had 838 miles to finish at 1430hrs GMT this afternoon, but he is expected to encounter stronger headwinds tomorrow with gusts to 35 knots.
Rich Wilson's attempts to reduce his speed temporarily to try and get more rest seemed to have worked as he managed to get into his bunk last night for the first time for some weeks, and achieve a better quality of rest. He was planning to remain under deep reefed main and a small storm jib while he a regrouped mentally and physically, moderating his speeds to the difficult, aggressive swell. Unfortunately for the race's oldest skipper, he is going to have to spend rather too many days pointing towards 'home' as he goes around the outside of the high pressure.
Raphael Dinelli was close to Fernando de Noronha this morning, making more than 9 knots while, 530 miles behind in his wake, Norbert Sedlacek is not much slower under double reefed main on Nauticsport-Kapsch.
Dinelli was reporting Doldrums conditions today. The ICTZ are very large and very active so he will face a couple of days of pretty tough conditions with some big squalls... Sedlacek has good trades - the best conditions of the fleet at the moment - comfortable sailing beam reaching in 15-18 knots, one or two little trade winds squalls, but pretty much ideal today as he chases Dinelli
Dee Caffari (Aviva): I was in contact with Cali a lot. I wrote to him in French and he replied in English. It was very important in the south particularly during the big Cape Horn storm. We had been together from the Equator throughout the southern ocean and then after Cape Horn I said Goodbye Cali! Sorry! It wasn't easy with my damaged sail, but my skills had improved and I was sailing better. I improved my weather analysis and tactics and I had more confidence in the boat at speed. It was difficult seeing Mike suffer, after being in the lead and as I have the same boat, I wasn't very reassured at that moment.
Arnaud Boissi?res (Ak?na V?randas): All is fine on Ak?na. On Sunday, it will be fine too aboard the boat. I think it will be Sunday afternoon, but we'll see. So I'll try to finish after Church. Early afternoon would be good, as I could then head straight into the harbour.
Dee had a great race in spite of her problems and sailed intelligently to the point where she wasn't far behind Brian Thompson. Not only is she a great sailor, but also a nice person! She enjoys herself at sea and always has a kind word for others. A great person to travel with.
I'm sailing upwind for the moment with slightly choppy seas. But it's not unpleasant. This morning my rudder hit a plank of wood, which is never nice. The windward rudder kicked up slightly, but it wasn't anything serious. But it shows that right up until the last moment, you need to be cautious. I'm taking advantage of these pleasant conditions, but I want to finish on Sunday. It's fine weather out here, but there are some squalls with some rain.
Rapha?l Dinelli (Fondation Ocean Vital): The Doldrums have moved a long way south as I'm at 3?47 south. I'm just entering an area with a huge mass of clouds. I'm in it now and it could last 24 hours with these clouds. We never really know here. I got some rest and am ready to fight. If I get through the Doldrums without too many problems, I should finish in 3 or 4 weeks. I rationed myself in the south and now I'm eating less as it's so hot.
Particularly under the solar panels, where it's been like an oven for the past few days. It's certainly cooler outside than inside. So I've been drinking more than eating. My batteries are back up above 80% thanks to the solar panels. The wind generator is working too. In the trade winds I should get enough sunshine too, so I think this confirms the success of the Foundation's energy project.
1500hrs Rankings, Friday 20th February 2009
(FRA unless stated)
1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) finished after 84 days 3 hours, 9 minutes
2 . Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) finished after 89 days 9 hours 39 minutes
3 . Marc Guillemot (Safran) at 95 days 3 hours 19 mn. 36 sec.
4 . Sam Davies (Roxy) finished after 95 days 04 hours 39 minues
5 . Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) 98 days 20 hours 29 mn. 55 sec.
6 . Dee Caffari (Aviva) at 99 days 1 hours 10 mn. 57 sec.
still racing:
7 . Arnaud Boissi?res (Akena V?randas) at 226 miles to finish
8 . Steve White (Toe in the Water) 838 miles to finish
9 . Rich Wilson (Great American III) at 2512 miles to finish
10 . Rapha?l Dinelli (Fondation Oc?an Vital) at 3406 miles to finish
11 . Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport - Kapsch) at 3936 miles to finish
RDG . Vincent Riou (PRB). 3rd equal. 30 boats started
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