Back for 10 days

Bahrain Team Pindar skipper Brian Thompson reports on life ashore

It is now just over a week after the finish of the Vendée Globe and I am home on the Isle of Wight with my wife Nathalie and children Genevieve and Tristan. Although I spent nearly a hundred days at sea, that time now feels very far away, as I quickly get reacclimatised to ‘normal’ life. I am relishing the freedom to walk, to run, to go outside the 60 foot radius I was limited to. I am loving being with the family, and to see people and talk to them face to face rather than over a scratchy phone line. I am absolutely amazed to go to a shop and see a cornucopia of goodies that I was not able to have for so long; fresh milk - just go and pick it up, vegetables - take what I wish, chocolate - which flavour would I like? I am relishing listening to the radio, picking up a newspaper, going to the cinema, walking on grass, seeing the first daffodils appear. It’s all new and fresh to me.

Do I miss those last few weeks and days of the race, being stressed and covered in hydraulic oil, coaxing Bahrain Team Pindar to the finish line to keep 5th place? Not really. Do I miss the Southern Ocean, the warm tradewinds, the purity of the sea? Yes, I have been immensely privileged to see it once again, to live in that world for so long, to really understand we do live on a blue planet, wrapped by the sea. I am sure I will be back, hopefully in another Vendée, perhaps on another speed record attempt, and then one day cruising and showing the kids this wonderful world that we are entrusted with.

I will never forget the finish of course, it was the most amazing experience, the most perfect morning to bring the circle to a close. There was a flotilla of boats at the finish, that sped out at dawn from Les Sables to meet me like those helicopters in Apocalypse Now. As I crossed the finish line I sat on the bowsprit and enjoyed the feeling of elation and relief. Not till the last mile was I really sure I was going to make it, as just that night my keel pin had broken in two and I was sailing with just a free swinging keel, so was always concerned about Dee catching up during that final night.

But the last mile I truly enjoyed, with all family, friends and supporters in the boats alongside enjoying the moment too. Coming up the channel in Les Sables it was just astonishing to see so many people lining the walls to welcome me back, total strangers who just embraced the adventure of the race and wanted to be part of it. I had not really slept in two days but the energy of the crowds kept me going all that day, and those memories will certainly never fade.

Now I am back and really looking forward to what the next few weeks will hold. I plan to go to Bahrain soon and to meet many of my supporters there, and to get Bahrain even more interested in this fantastic sport. I have already converted Sami Kooheji, who was at the finish and is Bahrain’s Olympic Laser sailor, to offshore sailing and would love to help him further into the offshore scene and perhaps eventually to the finish of the Vendée.

Thanks to everyone who wrote to me during the race and those who logged on to our site and had their own Vendée experience.

Get out there sailing, enjoying and looking after our endless oceans!