Jersey sailor Phil Sharp 18th in Solitaire du Figaro

Jersey sailor Phil Sharp has finished third in his class in the prestigious Solitaire du Figaro solo race.

Sharp finished 18th overall after the end of the fourth and final leg from Les Sables d'Olonne to Dieppe.

"At the finish line there was all these boats piling down and gybing for the line," Sharp said.

"It was the closest offshore racing you'll ever see, three days of sailing and then you get 20 boats finishing within minutes of each other."

Sharp ended the four-legged race around the French coast just under an hour behind the winner of his class.

He was also the best placed British sailor in the race.