HAMPSHIRE sailing star Sam Davies crossed the finishing line of the Vendee Globe solo round-the-world race in third place this morning.

The 33-year-old from Hamble arrived in the race's home port of Les Sables d'Olonne, France, at 12:41am as crowds of people gathered to give her a heroes welcome.

After 96 days, 12 hours, 39 minutes and 1 second at sea and 27,470 miles of racing, Sam became only the third Briton ever to achieve a podium place finish in the infamous race that starts and ends in Les Sables d'Olonne.

Davies is also only the second British female sailor to complete the epic round the world adventure.

She must now wait to confirm her position because fourth-placed skipper Marc Guillemot was granted 50 hours more of redress than his British rival.

They both sailed to the aid of injured Yann Elies earlier in the race.