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11th May 2008 - Transat fleet leaving Sutton Harbour

10am Race day - final preparations as the skippers and shore crew prepare to leave Sutton harbour via the lock gate into Plymouth Sound.

The worlds media and press are in full attendance.

Press interview with Dee Caffari - Aviva Press interview with Michel Desjoyeaux - Foncia

Supporting the BT team is Dame Ellen MacArthur. Gordon Sparks from the BBC with Artemis Ocean Racing's skipper Jonny Malbon are providing live commentary from the quayside.

Dame Ellen MacArthur BBC Commentator Gordon Sparks with Jonny Malbon

The pontoons are bustling with activity.

Press interviews on the pontoons Press interviews on the pontoons

Skippers are filmed and interviewed.

Loick Peyron Loick Peyron Vincent Riou

Michel Desjoyeaux makes final preparations on Foncia.

Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux

Aviva's shore crew make their final preparations.

Aviva

Dee Caffari makes her final checks on Aviva.

Dee Caffari checking Aviva Dee Caffari checking Aviva Dee Caffari checking Aviva

Dee Caffari checking Aviva Dee Caffari checking Aviva Dee Caffari checking Aviva

Bang on 10am, Brit Air skippered by Armel LeCleac'h is the first IMOCA 60 to leave Sutton Harbour through the lock gate. Armel will finish in second place crossing the line at Boston 12 days 19 hours 28 minutes and 40 seconds after the start.

Brit Air leaves Sutton harbour

Sebastien Josse leaves on BT. Sebastien lead the race for 7 days until mainsail problems forced him to retire.

Brit Air leaves Sutton harbour Pakea Bizkaia - Unai Basurko

Dee Caffari waves to the crowd as she leaves on Aviva.

Dee Caffari waves to the crowd Dee Caffari waves to the crowd Dee Caffari waves to the crowd

Aviva heads for the lock gate.

Aviva heads for the lock gate

Loick Peyron leaves the harbour on Gitana Eighty. Loick will be the eventual winner crossing the line at Boston 12 days 11 hours 45 minutes and 35 seconds after the start. This is after Loick diverted his route to pick up fellow competitor Vincent Riou who was forced to abandon PRB after hitting a large sea mammal.

Loick Peyron leaves the harbour on Gitana Eighty

Armnaud Boissieres leaves with Akena Veranda.

Armnaud Boissieres leaves with Akena Veranda Armnaud Boissieres leaves with Akena Veranda

Unai Basurko leaves the lock gates by Queen Anne's Barrery on Pakea Bizkaia.

Pakea Bizkaia - Unai Basurko Pakea Bizkaia - Unai Basurko

Yannick Bestaven slips the moorings on Cervin EnR.

Cervin EnR - Yannick Bestaven

Michel Desjoyeaux leaves on Foncia. Five days into the race he is forced to retire after hitting a whale and damaging Foncia's daggerboard.

Michel Desjoyeaux leaves on Foncia Michel Desjoyeaux leaves on Foncia

After the IMOCA 60's have left the harbour it is the turn of the Class 40 boats.

Fujifilm - Alex Bennett

Alex Bennett leaves the lock gates on Fujifilm.

Fujifilm - Alex Bennett Fujifilm - Alex Bennett

Christophe Coatnoan leaves onboard Group Partouche.

Christophe Coatnoan leaves onboard Group Partouche Christophe Coatnoan leaves onboard Group Partouche

Finally all the pontoons are empty.

Empty pontoons

Yann Elies wll finish third on Gererali in 13 days 15 hours 00 minutes and 22 seconds.

More information can be found on the official Artemis Transat website.

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