Van Liew arrives in Charleston w/VIDEO

Brad Van Liew crossed the finish line outside of the jetties at 5 p.m. and was greeted by a flotilla of boaters and sailboats. The Velux 5 Oceans team had a finish mark in place and a cannon fired from the transom of a Boston Whaler to signify that he had completed Leg Four of the race. Van Liew is four for four in the five-leg race and politely corrected the AP reporter who asked him if he thought he would win the first three legs. "It's four legs as of now," said Van Liew. Charlestonians and South Carolinians need no such reminder as they have cheered on their local competitor since the very first talk of another around the globe solo sailboat race. Le Pingouin is now docked at Seabreeze Marina on the Cooper River and all of the Velux 5 fleet will stay there until Charleston Harborfest when they will move to the Maritime Center. Here is Brad Van Liew's blog entry from Monday, when he was grinding hard to get back to the Holy City. Stay tuned for the Rock the Dock party to honor Van Liew before the start of Leg Five of the race to La Rochelle, France. Should Van Liew complete that leg of the race, then he would finish first in this great test of a competitor's spirit while at sea.

For past blog entries on the Velux 5 race click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Van Liew is in complete control of his 60-foot sailboat; Nearing the finish line Brad was glad to visit boat to boat before reaching port; the bow of Le Pingouin has nearly rounded the globe; under full sail and approaching the shipping channel of Chalreston