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SAINT-DENIS DE LA REUNION, France: French yachtswoman
Maud Fontenoy capped her 151-day attempt to circumnavigate the
southern hemisphere against the prevailing winds by crossing a
virtual finish line here Wednesday.
Fontenoy, known previously for
rowing her way solo across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, will
bring her boat, “L’Oreal Paris,” into harbor on Thursday
having crossed a virtual finish line at 1120 GMT.
“Super, I’ve done it. My
heart is beating like mad!” she told Agence France-Presse as she
crossed the finish.
Fontenoy was accompanied by a
naval squadron, which blasted its horn and let off fireworks to
celebrate her achievement.
Thousands of well-wishers are
also expected to gather at harborside to meet the Frenchwoman, who
began her attempt on October 15, 2006.
Fontenoy, 29, will now spend the
rest of her journey coasting toward the harbor at Pointe des Galets
on the west coast of the island.
Speaking to AFP before crossing
the finish, Fontenoy said she was delighted she had finally brought
her five-month journey, which saw her lose a mast last month, to a
successful end.
“It’s surreal. I still
can’t quite believe that it’s finally the end after so many
testing experiences, and losing my mast on February 10,” she said.
“Thousands of times during the
past five months I’ve looked at the map and a thousand times
I’ve doubted.
“But I’m there, or just
about. I’m staying vigilant though. The wind is strong and my
rigging is on its last legs.”
She added: “My brave little
boat saved me. It will be hard to come back on dry land.”
--AFP
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