Ellen

Not the lesbian American TV star, but our own girl from Derbyshire Ed Gorman gets up to speed with the latest from la petite Anglais

A key area where the two work well together is in the tactics and navigation department where they will be assisted by the American router Lee Bruce. "We definitely share the tactics," Ellen said. "I spend more time collecting information on the computer, going on the Web and talking to Lee - I speak 'American' so that helps. Then obviously I discuss it with Alain and we make a decision together." The whole process is a lot less stressful than during the Vendee when Ellen had to do it all on her own. "That is one of the best things about sailing two-up," she added, "because it takes off so much pressure."

She described the TJV course for the multis, which requires them to round Ascension island on their way to the finish at the Brazilian port of Salvador, as a "shocker". The Doldrums, she believes will be critical to the overall outcome and she is expecting a variety of approaches with some risking the hard east option - the shortest course but the widest bandwidth of the Doldrums - while others may play extra safe and go a long way west - a longer course but a thinner slice of windless ocean. "The Doldrums are the biggest headbanger for everyone," she said.