Ellen MacArthur interview part 2

Britain's solo sailing star talks about her plans for the future

mfs: What about the possibility of the Around Alone or the next Vendee because Michel Desjoyeaux has already said he is going defend his Vendee Globe title. Does that kick-start your ambitions in that area at all?

EM: I've obviously thought about the next Vendee. I definitely can't say no, but I don't think it's right for me to say yes yet to the next one. I think I need this year just to diversify and not jump to decisions. The Around Alone is attractive and certainly going back to New Zealand and the States would be great and the boat is basically ready - she's had her re-fit and she's basically in good shape - I've got no worries about the boat.

mfs: So there's nothing that happened in the Vendee that's left scars that you don't want to go back and re-open - the world course is something that you still relish?

EM: Yes, for sure during the Vendee I discovered things inside myself that I didn't know were there and came closer to despair than ever before in my
life because I was just absolutely exhausted and I've learnt a tremendous amount from the race. After having learnt that, it seems pretty stupid to throw it away.

mfs: Do you think the experience has changed you?

EM: Yes I think it has. I think the Ellen MacArthur who set off on the race was probably a bit younger than the Ellen MacArthur who came back. But I think, as a person or as a personality, I don't think I've changed at all. Do you think I have?

mfs: I was going to say, how hard is it to remain true to yourself under the pressure of fame which you've now got?

EM: Well the first thing is - and I don't hesitate to tell people this - and people do assume otherwise, that I didn't do the Vendee in order to become famous. A lot of people actively go out to become famous. I just did it because I love sailing and I wanted to sail round the world. In a way that pure fact makes it easier to cope with because I know it's not been forced and it's not a mystery - I know exactly why I did it.

mfs: What's the hardest part of being famous?

EM: I think the fact that it never stops no matter where you are. The fact that people know who you are, people recognise you, people know which restaurant
you ate in or which ferry you came in on. You know that people are watching the whole time. More than a negative, I find it very positive to see all the kids run up and because I am immensely touched by the number of people who followed the project.

mfs: Have there been any freaky things as well?

EM: Oh, we've had some weird letters sent to my parents' house. But at the end of the day, you are going to get that because thousands of people know who
you are.

mfs: Are you finding it hard to control the projection of your image in the general media? Talking from the specialist point of view, we want to project you as a grand prix racer as well as a personality, whereas the general media may see you more as an adventurer and someone doing extraordinary or even wacky things.

EM: No I don't see that as a problem. I think the Olympics and the success there has made an impact and people are seeing sailing in that way - as a racing sport.

mfs: But how hard is it now that you now embody British sailing to some extent? What you do is what we do. Where you go, we go. In the past that wasn't the case. Is that a source of pressure?

EM: Not really, no. I think the worst I could do now is jump to a stupid decision that's not right for the future. I'm still 24 and this is very much the start of my career. Many people do say "Ellen MacArthur, what on earth can she possibly learn - she knows everything." But that is absolutely not the case. That's quite hard to deal with sometimes because people feel that I'm greatest thing sailing's ever had and don't really understand that sailing around the world in the Vendee Globe is absolutely not the same as racing in the Olympics or the America's Cup. It's hard sometimes with people assuming I'm at their level when I'm not and it's notthe same kind of sailing. My objective right now is to get better at what I do and to be able to do more and to be able to jump from a trimaran to crewing on an 18ft skiff or whatever - it would be nice to be able to do all those things and feel confident.
Part 1 of this interview click here