08-Feb-2005
By: Lucy Manning
Channel 4
Not just a world record but an honour from the Queen, Ellen MacArthur arrived back in Falmouth to a rapturous welcome, and before she even reached land, in an e-mail to the boat, the news came that she had been made a Dame.
The 28-year-old yachtswoman stormed into the record books as the fastest person to sail solo, non stop, around the world.
She said there were times when she didn't think she'd make it, and when home seemed a very long way away.
But just over 71 days since she set out, thousands of people lined Falmouth harbour to welcome her onto dry land.
She had spent 71 days alone but Ellen MacArthur had company as she made her way home.
She said the one thing she had missed out at sea was having people around her, now everyone wanted to follow in her wake, and the solo sailor led a flotilla.
She had led from the beginning of the challenge, always ahead of the clock, always in sight of the record.
The sea was as busy as a shipping lane with boats weaving in and out so they could ride with her on the final leg.
Thousands came out to cheer her home, lining Falmouth's coast to welcome her back to the place she had left in November.
All captivated by the tiny sailor and her enormous achievement, still working on her boat to the end, knowing she was just less than a mile from shore.
As the boat docked the sheer relief was obvious, she had battled through strong winds, slow winds, faulty equipment and exhaustion.
t had taken her 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds to break the record.
She said: "It is so fantastic to be here at the finish of this trip, having been around the world, having got home, and above all being able to share it because the record means nothing if you cannot share it, and I'm so proud of the team for having out this project together."
Reunited with her parents, Ken and Avril MacArthur were relieved their circumnavigating daughter was finally leaving her boat. They said they had worried for 70 days.
The immediate worry for Ellen was opening the champagne, the lack of sleep sometimes only 15 minutes a night, showed as she grappled with the bottle, she only just had enough strength to pop the cork.
At least it was now the spray of champagne rather than the sea.
She said: "I had a clock on board and for 71 days I watched it tick away, and in the good moments and the bad moments the one thing that never changed was the clock because it was ticking the entire time.
"So to see the clock, with the second hand not moving, is unbelievable and I am so relieved."
It was just before 10.30pm last night when Ellen crossed the finish line at Ushant off the French coast, knocking more than a day off the solo, non-stop round-the-world record.
Later as she enjoyed her first real sleep, the boats in Falmouth were starting out early to greet her.
All shapes and sizes taking to the water, the lookout points packed, all looking for Ellen.
She sailed out of Falmouth as just Ellen, now she is Dame Ellen, an honour to add to her record, but she is not packing away her sails yet.
She said: "It is not the end. There is a lot more records out there."
