Paris (AFP)

Arrived Thursday in Les Sables d'Olonne, in 17th place in the Vendée Globe, the Swiss Alan Roura (La Fabrique) then recounted his pleasure to have often been able to race, edge to edge or on sight, during the three months of this race. around the world.

"I am tired because it was rough, but I am very happy to be there and to have returned safely with my boat", explained Friday the 27 year old Swiss, victim of a big damage to the south of New Zealand.

“I really wondered if I was going to keep going, especially for safety issues. I didn't know how I was going to do it. And then finally I learned to sail differently, in a way I didn't know. . I had a lot of fun, "said the skipper at a press conference.

"The highlights weren't there every day, but when they did it was incredible. The descent between The Canaries and Cape Verde was great, the passage of Cape Horn magnificent and then sailing with the other boats , sometimes on sight, it was crazy. These moments will remain engraved because it is rare to have a match race on a round the world ".

"It took me a while to get into the pleasure phase, but after that it was great. If I finished this Vendée Globe, it is thanks to my daughter because I wanted to prove to her that her father was holding the road and that he was going to go to the end. I wanted to leave this mark on him, "added Roura, as moved as he was touching.

The Swiss crossed the line on Thursday only two hours ahead of Stéphane Le Diraison (Time for Oceans), his companion at the end of the race, 18th and victim of a last damage then, without consequence on his classification final.

"When we left the anchorage, we went forward instead of going backwards, so we caught a bit in the propeller and, with the swell, the propeller shaft tore off. immediately saw it, so I limited the damage. It is not very serious because the boat is secure and we did not flood the electrical system. We are going to repair now! ", he explained.

His boat immobilized, The Diraison has gone up the channel well, but in an organization's semi-rigid: "It's chic too," joked the skipper.

After five arrivals in a few hours on Thursday, including Pip Hare shortly after midnight, calm returned to Les Sables d'Olonne.

The Spaniard Didac Costa (One Planet, One Ocean), detached in 20th place in the standings, is expected on Saturday.

Ranking Friday at 5:00 p.m. GMT:

1. Yannick Bestaven (FRA / Maître Coq IV) arrived in 80d 03h 44min 46s (compensation: -10h 15min 00s)

2. Charlie Dalin (FRA / Apivia) arrived in 80d 06h 15min 47s

3. Louis Burton (FRA / Bureau Vallée 2) arrived in 80d 10h 25min 12s

4. Jean Le Cam (FRA / Yes we Cam!) Arrived in 80 days 13h 44min 55s (compensation: -16h 15min 00s)

5. Boris Herrmann (GER / Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) arrived in 80d 14h 59min 45s (compensation: -06h 00min 00s)

6. Thomas Rettant (FRA / LinkedOut) arrived in 80d 15h 22min 01s

7. Damien Seguin (FRA / Apicil Group) arrived in 80d 21h 58min 20s

8. Giancarlo Pedote (ITA / Prysmian Group) arrived in 80d 22h 42min 20s

9. Benjamin Dutreux (FRA / OMIA-Water Family) arrived in 81d 19h 45min 20s

10. Maxime Sorel (FRA / V And B Mayenne) arrived in 82d 14h 30min 15s

11. Armel Tripon (FRA / L'Occitane en Provence) arrived in 84d 19h 07min 50s (compensation: + 02h 00min 00s)

12. Clarisse Cremer (FRA / Banque Populaire X) arrived in 87d 02h 24min 25s

13. Jérémie Beyou (FRA / Charal) arrived in 89d 18h ​​55min 58s

14. Romain Attanasio (FRA / Pure-Best Western) arrived in 90 days 02h 46min 02s

15. Arnaud Boissières (FRA / La Mie Câline-Artisans Artipôle) arrived in 94d 18h ​​36min 06s

16. Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN / DMG Mori Global One) arrived in 94d 21h 32min 56s

17. Alan Roura (SUI / La Fabrique) arrived in 95d 06h 09min 56s

18. Stéphane Le Diraison (FRA / Time For Oceans) arrived in 95d 08h 16min 00s

19. Pip Hare (GBR / Medallia) arrived in 95d 11h 37min 30s

20. Didac Costa (ESP / One Planet One Ocean) 269.5 miles from the finish

21. Clément Giraud (FRA / Compagnie du lit-Jiliti) 1,044.7

22. Miranda Merron (GBR / Campagne de France) 1,414.6

23. Manuel Cousin (FRA / Sétin Group) 1,738.0

24. Alexia Barrier (FRA / TSE-4myplanet) 3,117.7

25. Ari Huusela (FIN / Stark) 3,159.2

Withdrawals (in chronological order):

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Alex Thomson (GBR / Hugo Boss)

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Samantha Davies (GBR / Initiatives-Cœur)

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Isabelle Joschke (GER / MACSF)

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Sébastien Simon (FRA / Arkéa-Paprec)

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Sébastien Destremau (FRA / Thank you)

.

Fabrice Amedeo (FRA / Newrest-Art and Windows)

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