Vendee Globe: Pip Hare returns home to Poole
- Published
Pip Hare is only the eighth woman to finish the Vendee Globe
Round-the-world yachtswoman Pip Hare has returned to her home port of Poole after completing the Vendee Globe race.
The 47-year-old became the first British skipper to reach the complete in the 2020-21 race on 18 February, after 95 days at sea.
In the latter stages she was buoyed by a surprise birthday message from Hollywood actor Russell Crowe.
On her arrival in Poole she was greeted by well-wishers and said it was "great to be home".
The 47-year-old is only the eighth woman to finish the single-handed non-stop round the world yacht race, which was first contested in 1989.
Waving flares on her 60ft yacht Medallia, she was given a police escort and was met by a lifeboat and other small craft as she arrived into Poole Harbour.
"There were loads of people with Union Jacks, waving and shouting and horn-blowing, we had asked people not to come and to stay safe but I am incredibly touched that people came out," she said.
Pip Hare waved flares as she approached Poole Harbour
Describing what she had been missing most, she said: "I guess my coffee machine is definitely up there and for sure my bed, I have been sleeping on a bean bag on the floor for quite a while.
"I averaged about four hours in a 24-hour period but the main thing is you nap, you only sleep for about 30 minutes at a time."
She celebrated her birthday in the mid-Atlantic and received a surprise message from Russell Crowe after admitting she was a huge fan in a BBC Radio Solent interview.
"It was one of the kindest things that anybody has ever done for me," she said.
"It came at a great time, it just followed a week where I was really struggling, emotionally I was wiped out and I had not been very well."
Russell Crowe urged Pip Hare to 'keep going'
As an elite sportswoman she was not required to quarantine on returning to the UK.
She said: "My body has been through quite an ordeal for 95 days so I need to be careful, to look after myself, I think my immune system isn't as strong as it could be.
"I will do a family Zoom and see them face-to-face as soon as I can."
Ms Hare finished the race in 19th place. She took 95 days, 11 hours, 37 mins and 30 seconds, covered the 24,365 miles of the theoretical course at an average speed of 10.63 knots and the actual distanced that she travelled on the water was 27,976.87 miles at 12.21 knots.
No woman has won the Vendee Globe, though Britain's Dame Ellen MacArthur finished second in the 2000-01 race
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Yannick Bestaven was declared the winner of the race on 28 January, after being handed a time bonus for his role in rescuing a fellow competitor.
He crossed the finish line in 80 days, 13 hours, 59 minutes and 46 seconds.
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