So near and yet.....

Facing 50 mph winds ahead of him tomorrow, Roland Jourdain has decided to withdraw from the Vendee Globe with just 1,200 miles to go. The risk of capsize is too great, sailing his boat Veolia Environnement without its keel bulb. He is putting in to Sao Miguel in the Azores this afternoon

"Once the decision was taken, that was it," he said. "I would have found it more difficult to come to this decision if the forecasts had indicated light winds, but it’s the exact opposite. For 3rd February, they are talking about 50-knot winds with a ten metre swell. I’ve been lucky to have come this far without capsizing, particularly in yesterday’s storm, so I’m not going to push my luck. I have gambled enough. It’s no use now and it would be unreasonable to continue."

It's the right decision. He and his boat will survive to fight another day.