We've arrived!! After 18 days and approximately 3,000 miles of sailing, we eventually crossed the finishing line at 7.02am (11.02am your time) yesterday morning the 10th December 2009.

Our last night on board was probably one of the most eventful nights that we had had on board for a while. Typical eh? The winds gusted 26 knots and the squalls of rain and wind just kept coming, one after another, hour after hour. This meant that those on watch were kept busy trimming the sails, taking sails in and out, and generally keeping the boat under control and on course for St Lucia - all in the rain and wind. For those who were asleep it meant a very rolly, bumpy and therefore sleepless night for their last night. Not the ideal preparation.

Our approach to St Lucia was spectacular since the new moon that appeared just as we left Las Palmas 18 days ago was almost full now so the night sky was extremely bright - it was so bright that you could have read a book!

We first saw land at around 4.30am, but it was Martinique that we saw first and not St Lucia. We could see another yacht about 12 or so miles behind us plus a cruise liner moving very slowly towards us and to St Lucia, presumably waiting for daybreak to make it final approach to the island.

We got our first glimpses St Lucia at around 5.30am so we knew we were getting close. The sun was beginning to make an impression on the night sky by this time and the now almost full moon was dipping down below the horizon directly in front of us silhouetting St Lucia for us. It was awesome!

By the time we got to the island at 6.30 it was more or less daylight. We mustered everyone onto deck and started giving the boat a general tidy down in readiness for the finish and for the inevitable photo session that the ARC organisers would arranged.

We crossed the finish line at 7.02am. We believe that we were the 15th boat to cross the line, so we're happy with that! We'll have to wait a week or so to find out our official placing after taking account of engine hours and handicap so we expect to drop down a considerable number of places at the end of the day.

It has been an epic journey for all of us and especially for Cameron, Alex, Stephen, and Scott. There are definitely mixed feelings on board about our arrival at St Lucia. We are probably all glad to be here and to be on dry land and none of us will miss the night watches! In saying this, we will all miss the companionship and support that we as a team of people have received and given to each another over the past 18 days in order to make this journey possible.

The four of us owe a huge debt thanks to Tom, Fi and Angus for making this journey possible for us. Tom has been the prefect skipper - at all times in complete control of the boat (even when he's asleep!) but at the same time giving us the space to learn about the boat. He is a great teacher too. Fi for the wonderful food that she has so lovingly prepared for us. She has spent so much of the trip in the galley preparing food for us that you just wouldn't believe it and the food that has come out of there has been of a standard that you would expect of a 5 star restaurant. How she managed to do this for three weeks from that space goodness only knows. And finally there is Angus. Angus has been awesome on deck. His experience has meant that he knew exactly what to do and when - and without any complaint whatsoever. He has been a fantastic help to Tom and a great teacher to the four of us. Thank you all.

Finally a big thanks to all the emails of support that we have received from all of you over the past three weeks or so. It has made a big difference to all of us and has given us all some outside contact to look forward to each day.

Thanks also to those of you who have sponsored us on this trip by donating to The Ellen MacArthur Trust. We will leave the Just Giving site open for another week or so just in case any of you are feeling even more generous.

Last night we attended the ARC welcome party on the beach. We had only had two beers each on our trip across the pond - well boy did we make up for this last night!!!! The less said about last night the better - eh Stephen????

A final few picture for you today: one of us enjoying our first drink yesterday lunchtime; one of the Gibson's and finally one of the birthday boy and Fi this morning! If you are interested, the official photos of us crossing the line are on www.photoaction.com under the ARC section. Scroll down the list of boats for Stravaig of Argyll.

We hope you have enjoyed the diary and thanks again for all your support.

Until the next time!!!!!

Scott, Cameron, Alex and Stephen.