MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

HMS Endurance cheered Ellen MacArthur

HMS Endurance, the Royal Navy's Ice Patrol vessel, paused briefly over the weekend on her long passage to Antarctica to meet up with solo yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur in her trimaran B&Q.

The two vessels passed far out in the South Atlantic, 600 miles East of Rio de Janeiro.

The Ship's Company has been enthusiastically monitoring Ellen's progress with B&Q, constantly checking her website updates, and they were keen to wish Ellen well on the final long haul of her inspiring voyage. When at last the boat was in sight, sailors lined the Ship's rail to cheer Ellen on.

Ellen's progress has certainly captured the imagination of the Ship's company in Endurance. Ship's medic Jacqueline Quant said, "It is a real privilege to witness history in the making."

Commanding Officer Captain Tom Karsten said "I am delighted to report that Ellen sounded well and B&Q looked in good shape."

Ellen has been battling to complete repairs to her mast track, and has faced the additional frustration of her lead gradually decreasing over the existing record set by Frenchman Francis Joyon in February 2004.

HMS Endurance will be spending February and March in the Antarctic before returning home in time to join hundreds of Ships gathering in the Solent for the International Fleet Review on the 28th of June - part of the Royal Navy's celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar