Bound for a champagne-spraying finish, Philippe Monnet has one last bit of light-air work on the final stretch.

ATLANTIC OCEAN — Last reports had French single-hander Philippe Monnet 700 miles off Vigo, Spain, some 833 miles from the finish line on his way to a reunion with family and friends and an inscription in the record books. After five months at sea circumnavigating against the prevailing winds and currents, Monnet is moving quickly enough to arrive back in France on Friday. He anticipates the finish will be "both a victory and a deliverance." Although nothing is certain until the French bubbly starts to flow, there was a hint of nostalgia as Monnet reflected on his trials enroute. "I felt great bitterness towards the Southern Ocean when I was down there, but today I'm rather proud of myself for having mastered those difficult moments and coming out the other side. Unless I suffer a major mishap," he explained, "I should get back within the time limit. I'm completely serene, even if I'm keeping the boat under close scrutiny."
The final stretch has Monnet in light-air management with unsettled following winds. His 10-day lead over Mike Golding's 1993 record was whittled to eight days after passing the Azores as a westerly strategy meant covering more distance, but also kept the sailor out of time consuming calms. UUNET is now on port tack, lessening the chance that the damaged starboard running backstay will spoil the day. If the rest of the boat can hold together just a bit longer, congratulations from all mariners will be in order. For more information see www.70degreesud.com