MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Ellen MacArthur beats world record.
Ellen MacArthur finally completed her single handed round the world trimaran voyage in the record breaking time of 71 days and under 13 hours.
The Isle of Wight 28 years old yachtswoman crossed the finish line at 22:30 GMT Monday after sailing 27,000 miles and beating the previous record of Frenchman Francis Joyon of 72 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds.
"It's been an absolutely unbelievable journey both physically and mentally", wrote Ellen in her website adding that "I cannot believe it, I absolutely cannot believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet.
"I don't think until I see faces again that it's really going to sink in. I'm absolutely overjoyed."
MacArthur's exact time will be verified by the World Sailing Speed Records Council, whose officials were at the finish.
Her shore team was waiting to greet her on the navy patrol vessel HMS Severn, which will escort her B&Q trimaran into British water.
MacArthur's project director Mark Turner admitted: "We thought it would be pretty hard - in fact, we thought we might have to have two or three goes at it. I'm glad we did it the first time - I'm not sure we or she could deal with doing it second time.
When MacArthur set sail on 28 November she was under no illusions as to the enormity of the task that lay ahead of her. Joyon's achievement in February 2004 raised the bar in round-the-world sailing.
The Frenchman smashed the previous record by a massive 20 days and it was widely believed in the sailing world that his mark would go unchallenged for several years. MacArthur chased Joyon's record with a boat that is smaller, and therefore slower than his, although its lighter weight helps counterbalance that disadvantage.
However, the 75ft vessel she has guided across more than 27,000 miles has been specially built with this task in mind. And MacArthur is no newcomer to round-the-world sailing despite growing up in landlocked Derbyshire. MacArthur first came to prominence when she finished second in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race in 2001. Feted by French fans of the Vendee, her achievement caught the imagination in Britain and MacArthur finished as runner-up to David Beckham in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
MacArthur won the gruelling Route du Rhum race the following year before setting her sights on breaking more records in multi-hulls. However, she failed in an attempt to chase down the Jules Verne round-the-world mark for full crews in 2003, as well as a tilt at the solo transatlantic record.
MacArthur has had to contend with extreme weather conditions and technical problems in her bid to better Joyon. Mountainous seas, icebergs and gale force winds have threatened to capsize her boat - and she narrowly missed a collision with a whale on day 63. MacArthur burnt her arm trying to stop fumes and heat leaking into her cabin early on in the race and suffered bad bruising after scaling the mast to make repairs on the return Atlantic leg.
She has lost ground since being five days up on Joyon's record when she rounded the tip of South America. But she has already broken five records on this trip - beating Joyon's times to the Equator, the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin in Australia, Cape Horn and back again to the Equator. (BBC) To Ellen ? a mark of respect from the Royal Navy.
As Ellen MacArthur crossed the line off the French coast at Ushant last night and wrote her name in the sailing history books, a signal flashed from the Fleet Headquarters in Northwood to escorting patrol ship HMS Severn.
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Allan West sent a personal message, to be delivered to Ellen in her trimaran, waiting in the darkness. The signal read as follows:
All of us in the Royal Navy have watched with fascination and huge admiration as you have taken on this daunting challenge. The target you have set for yourself is truly remarkable and you stand as an example to all mariners. Above all you have fired the imagination of young people everywhere who otherwise might never have contemplated a life at sea or even considered the importance of the sea as vital means of travel and communication.
I know that some of our ships and aircraft have been able to rendezvous with you during your voyage, and they have provided us with magnificent pictures and reports of your progress. At the end of your journey, allow me to express my own personal congratulations and those of us in the Royal Navy not privileged to be with you at your homecoming, on this fantastic triumph.
God-speed from the finish line to Falmouth. HMS Severn will escort you home, but her presence also marks the Royal Navy's deep admiration for you, and the magnificent team that has assisted you from ashore. Enjoy a wonderful home-coming!
Admiral Sir Alan West
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