"As long as you haven't done it, it's still very theoretical the Vendée Globe but when you're in it you really realize how strong it is."

A tough finish for Armel Tripon who was forced to slow down last Friday off the Spanish coast to let a violent winter depression pass by. In pouring rain, 30 knots of wind and with waves over 5 metres, @armeltriponskipper crossed the finish line in the dark, in the early hours on Monday morning. It was about time: the skipper of L'Occitane en Provence was almost out of food.