Another record in the bag

Ellen crosses the equator and maintains slight advantage

Summary for Day 61 0710 GMT:

Distance ahead: 426 miles
Time ahead: 1 day 13 hour [representing 12.85% of time remaining] calculated using the time it took for Joyon to get to the same Distance to Finish as Ellen's current position
Lat/Long: 01 43 N / 029 23 W (104 miles N Equator / 870 miles SSW Cape Verde Is)
Average Boat speed: 5.99 knots (heading NW by N)
True Wind speed: 5.8 knots (direction ENE)
Sea temperature: 28.1 degrees C

B&Q crossed the Equator at 2145 gmt last night in a new fastest solo time of 60 days, 13 hours and 35 minutes. Taking 1 day, 10 hours and 50 mins off the previous fastest solo time set by Joyon of 62 days, 0 hours and 25 mins. At the of crossing, the ahead calculation was showing a greater margin because Ellen was effectively closer to the finish than Joyon as she crossed the Equator a few miles further east, and therefore closer to the finish. This is MacArthur's fifth new solo speed record that she has achieved on her voyage so far [see below] and, subject to WSSRC ratification, she has also set a new solo Equator-Equator record of 51 days, 19 hours and 15 minutes.

There is still a long way to get out of high risk doldrums and Ellen is not expecting to clear this area until late tonight: "Wind up and down, fluctuating between 5 and 9 knots, and its gone further to the north which is a good sign. Have been hesitating about putting the Code 0 up... There is a very thin line of cloud I can see on the sat pics that looks like the end of the Doldrums to me, but its 195 miles to the north which is a long way at 8 knots..."

Since crossing the Equator, B&Q's average speed has been decreasing from 15 knots to 6 knots this morning - and these are once an hour 5 minute averages, in between she is having even slower patches. Satellite imagery shows a dangerous amount of shower and cloud activity and each shower can bring potential of no wind or violent squalls in equal measure. Falling into a windless hole now could cost Ellen all her advantage that she has built up to 1 day and 13 hours at 0752gmt this morning – already on its way down from a peak of 1 day 14 hours overnight.

Francis Joyon, on board IDEC, started to speed up again after a slow couple of days inching northwards close into the Brazilian coast. From today his Distance Made Good [ie effective miles covered towards finish line] starts to improve dramatically - 232 miles today, 257 miles tomorrow then 300 miles. Ellen can expect to lose some of her advantage as she stays slow through the Doldrums today. Joyon crossed the Equator after 62 days and 25 minutes on 23.1.04 [on Ellen's timetable, tomorrow the 29th] and was fortunate not to get trapped by any Doldrums activity - picking up the beginings of the NE Trade Winds before even reaching the Equator.

Further upwind conditions are expected after the Doldrums as the north-easterly trades are not expected to veer into the east until Sunday. Commanders' Weather warn Ellen to keep east of 35 degrees West or risk getting caught in lighter winds.

Concern is growing for 'Slinky' as hundreds of emails pour in overnight from everyone wanting to know whether MacArthur had sacrificed him to Neptune at the Equator. On the outbound crossing it was a copy of Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About The Bike" but this time, she promised to offer up the most valuable thing she had on board. Slinky is MacArthur's long-suffering on board companion - furry looking, around six inches long and purple in colour, you sometimes see him hanging around the webcam. His has suffered in silence for the past 62 days and now he has disappeared from view: "Slinky? I'll try to do some photos to clarify the situation soon..." was MacArthur's only comment. For most sailors including MacArthur, offerings to Neptune are a serious business, not to be taken lightly.