Regatta: The last Vendée Globe hero: Ari Huusela with "Sisu" crosses the finish line

The Finns have a wonderful word that summarises qualities such as endurance, strength and uncomplaining perseverance in a single short denominator: Sisu! In the land of a thousand lakes, sisu is a concept of life worth striving for - not losing one's head or hope in difficult situations. The first Finnish Vendée Globe graduate Ari Huusela has never done this in the past four months. Not even after the early near-knockout at the start of the race in the Bay of Biscay, when his mast touched the water in the first storm. In his home country, Ari Huusela has become a nationally recognised synonym for Sisu, above all thanks to his courageous attitude. As the 25th of the original 33 participants, the 58-year-old finished last today after a confidently sailed non-stop lap around the world. Eight eliminated skippers, including prominent sailors such as "Hugo Boss" skipper Alex Thomson, were not granted this honour.

With the arrival of the likeable pilot from Helsinki, the sporting part of the ninth edition of the solo race around the world comes to an end. The hosts did not miss the opportunity to celebrate the last hero in a particularly stormy fashion. And the Finn clearly enjoyed the final miles on the way to the start and finish harbour of Port Olona. After 116 days, 18 hours, 15 minutes and 46 seconds at sea, Ari Huusela has earned every applause with his outstanding stamina. The 58-year-old took almost exactly a third of a year to complete his first single-handed circumnavigation without a stopover and is now one of only 113 people to have completed the Vendée Globe since its premiere in 1989/90. For comparison: Jean-François Coste was the "first to finish last" at the Vendée Globe premiere in 1989/90 after 163 days, 1 hour and 19 minutes.

The Finnish "Stark" skipper Ari Huusela has arrived. Watch the live broadcast here

Huusela described his Cape Horn passage as the highlight of his journey: "That was so much my big moment, my dream for this trip. That was so beautiful! The Atlantic ascent, on the other hand, proved to be a struggle. Just like for most other sailors." Having already been seen off by hundreds of support boats and thousands of fans in Helsinki before the race on his way to France, Huusela can expect an even bigger crowd when he returns to his Finnish home port soon. "This project has become so, so big in Finland," says Huuselas, impressed, "I'm really amazed. My life will be different when I'm back home. I think there are a lot of people who have followed me and now know who Ari Huusela is. I originally started this project for myself, I wanted to be my honest self on this journey and not make a lot of noise about it. Then it all just happened. I just wrote these stories off the boat. And I think they were liberating for the people in lockdown. The biggest comedy show in Finland did a sketch with me the other day. It's incredible!"

Huusela's Imoca "Stark", once built in New Zealand at Hakes Marine in Wellington for Dee Caffari, is now almost 14 years old and had already circumnavigated the world three times before Huusela's adventure - once in the Vendée Globe and twice in the Barcelona World Race. Under sail number FIN 222, the "Stark" has once again proven to be solid and reliable after several refits. Just like the skipper himself. As a pilot with a high affinity for the element of air and a good understanding of weather development, the two-time mini-transat helmsman has brought his race to the finish line. "Hyvin tehty", well done, the Finns would say. You can read about Huusela's adventure in detail from August. Huusela's Vendée Globe book, for which he wrote a daily diary on paper during the race, will then be published. At the finish, Huusela said: "I am so happy, so proud to have made it. Don't forget that I'm still an aeroplane pilot and this is my hobby. I think I've done everything you can do as an amateur solo pilot."