PARIS - South African Kirsten Neuschaefer made history by becoming the first female mariner to win a solo round-the-world race as she crossed the line on the French coast after 235 gruelling days in the Golden Globe.
The 40-year-old, in her boat Minnehaha, conquered the three Capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn) and her 15 rivals without being allowed to stop off at other ports, permitted any help or equipped with modern navigation devices.
The challenging nature of the race was illustrated by the fact that only two other competitors are on course to officially finish the race.
India's Abhilash Tomy should arrive in the coming days while Michael Guggenberger of Austria is believed to be afloat round the Canary Islands.
British sailor Simon Curwen crossed the line first mid-afternoon on Thursday but he had lost his chance of being crowned the victor as he had stopped off at a Chilean port for repairs.
Women sailors have gone close before in winning a solo round-the-globe race -- British great Ellen MacArthur finished second in the 2001 Vendee Globe.
It was not all plain sailing for the redoubtable Neuschaefer with her battling through several heavy storms -- but the frown turned to a beaming smile as she absorbed what she had achieved.
"It is unbelievable, it is too much after all these months alone," she said after setting foot on terra firma and taking in the hordes of people who had lined the shore to come and shower her with accolades.
"I am very emotional and honoured that there are so many people here and I do not think I will ever experience a similar moment again," she added before embracing her mother with applause ringing in her ears.
Neuschaefer had already rewritten the nautical history books by becoming on February 15 the first woman to pass Cape Horn leading a global yachting race.
Only a few weeks before she had courageously saved her Finnish opponent Tapio Lehtinen, who had sunk off South Africa.
The Port-Elizabeth-born yachtswoman has been a professional since 2006, specialising in the transfer and delivery of yachts by sea.
She has always had a spirit of adventure, telling AFP that aged 22 she had cycled across Europe to South Africa -- 15,000 kilometres.
She was the only woman to compete in this edition and her achievement was hailed by fellow yachtswoman and Euro MEP Catherine Chabaud, the first female to sail round the world solo in the 1996-1997 Vendee Globe.