Three hours and 32 minutes after Groupama took victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre, Kingfisher-Foncia, skippered by Alain Gautier and Ellen MacArthur, crossed the line at 2225hrs 10s local time (1225hrs 10s GMT). They have spent 14 days, 12 hours, 35 minutes and 10 seconds racing.

Alain Gautier and Ellen MacArthur had held the lead on Kingfisher-Foncia for several days until a broken bowsprit, hydraulic problems and blown out gennaker slowed them up sufficiently for Groupama to steal victory in the final 24 hours of the race.

Kingfisher-Foncia’s average speed on the official course of 5188.6m was 14.88 knots, but as they sailed a total of 6,096 miles their average speed was 17.48 knots.

Ellen said happily 10 minutes after crossing the line: “I’m relieved that we’re here, that we’ve arrived after last night’s problems, it’s great to see so many people, for sure we’re both a bit disappointed to finish second when we’d been leading for a big part of the race. The sailing was fantastic, Alain was fantastic, the race was fantastic!”