Whitbread

SOUTHAMPTON, England -- Looking weary and just a little shellshocked, the competitors in the Whitbread Round the World Race finally sailed across the green waters here -- returning 246 days later to the spot where they began one of sailing's great adventures.With a blast from a cannon and a crescendo of horns, Merit Cup of Monaco was first over the line, narrowly beating out Sweden's EF Language in the short leg from La Rochelle, France. But the day was owned by EF Language, which had already put a lock on first and which, with a burst of orange and yellow balloons from shore, finally made that victory official.

Status: Day 2, Leg 9Standings:Boat .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Nautical miles to finish1. BrunelSunergy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...102.42. Merit Cup .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .103.63. EF Language .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .103.84. Silk Cut .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..104.15. Toshiba .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 104.36. Swedish Match .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...104.77. Innovation Kvaerner .. .. .. .. .. .. ...104.78. Chessie Racing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..107.29. EF Education .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .109.

LA ROCHELLE, France -- Like a floating drag race, the last leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race started yesterday with the wave of a flag, the interference of an unruly crowd and the hint of a fight.The nine boats started the shortest -- but most decisive -- leg of this 31,600-nautical-mile race in a tightly packed fleet that changed leads by the minute. After racing around the world for the past nine months, it all comes down to this sudden-death finish in European waters."It's going to be a crapshoot," said Jerry Kirby, bowman on Chessie Racing, which was in fourth place early this morning as it headed toward the English Channel.

LA ROCHELLE, France -- When crews in the Whitbread race finally cross the English Channel and lay eyes on the shores of Britain -- a sight they haven't witnessed since starting the around-the-world race nine months ago -- an odd thing could happen.They may all turn around.Only 450 miles are left in this punishing endurance contest, whose last leg begins today off La Rochelle and is set to finish tomorrow afternoon in Southampton, England. But after nearly 31,600 miles of dead-serious sailing, the last miles could prove downright kooky.

LA ROCHELLE, France -- Chessie Racing was in an abyss, hundreds of miles behind the rest of the fleet off the Grand Banks in the Atlantic, when bowman Rick Deppe decided to call home."

LA ROCHELLE, France -- Life in this city on the Atlantic coast plays out under the crooked eyes of gargoyles and across a landscape of medieval towers - even the motto in the glossy travel brochures is drawn from an event that happened more than 300 years ago.But during the past week, this port town rich in history has done itself up like an MTV video. Illuminated in what looks like the light from an oversized disco ball, the harbor is made over with twirling strobes and speakers blasting rock music.

LA ROCHELLE, France -- For a race that is over for all practical purposes, the Whitbread still has plenty of drama left.When EF Language pulled into a scruffy fishing port on the outskirts of La Rochelle in the pre-dawn hours yesterday, it had gathered enough points to set a Whitbread Round the World Race record. That is, it won the 31,600-nautical-mile sailing marathon around the globe one leg early before the race ends Sunday in Southampton, England.Even though first is sewn up, the race for second and third is very much alive.

LA ROCHELLE, France -- The boats in the Whitbread Round the World Race have watched most of the globe pass under their hulls, but the final hours into this ancient port were among the most significant.As the nine boats completed their trek from Annapolis to La Rochelle, they did so by marking several milestones. The finish offered a first-ever top trophy for hard-luck team Toshiba, a surprise third for Chessie Racing, a best-ever fourth by the all-women's boat, EF Education, and what was expected to be a big enough boost to EF Language to seal its overall victory in the nine-leg Whitbread.

LA ROCHELLE, France -- It will be fitting for this journey -- a trek across the pond that has proven to be anything but predictable.When the next-to-last leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race ends here today, surprise victors and teams long considered star-crossed are likely to be at the front of the pack.The nearly two-week trip from Annapolis to La Rochelle has been one of the wildest yet in this nine-leg, marathon sailing adventure around the globe.Battling for first are Toshiba and Silk Cut -- two hard-luck teams led by dueling British skippers.