MacArthur: Superb victory

The leaders had been expected to finish as early as Sunday but exceptionally light winds saw the boats virtually becalmed in the Mediterranean.

Since the first four boats passed the Azores eight days ago, they have sailed within sight of each, trading the lead all the way home.

At one stage on Tuesday, Groupama looked set to move into a decisive lead.

But skipper Franck Cammas was hit by a 15-minute penalty which saw him slip to third.

In the end Cammas finished almost four hours behind Foncia, although still in third place.

The race committee imposed the penalty after he owned up to briefly switching on his engine to prevent Groupama going aground.

Freak wave

Yvan Bourgnon's Bayer, which fell back during a windless night to sit 20 miles off the pace. came home fourth an hour later.

La Gitana IX finished fifth, nearly two full days after the winner.

It was an action-filled race, with three or the original eight competitors forced out through boat damage.

The crew of La Trinitaine had to be rescued by helicopter from the middle of the Atlantic when a freak wave ripped a hole in one of the outriggers.

The race, the first in the French trimaran season, took competitors from Cherbourg in France to Tarragona in Spain via the Atlantic islands of the Azores.