Ellen sets new round the world record

Phenomenal achievement for British solo sailor

Ellen MacArthur and her 75ft trimaran B&Q Castorama crossed the Ushant-Lizard finish line of her singlehanded non-stop round the world record attempt at 22:29:17GMT this evening. This makes her time for circumnavigation a record breaking 71d 14h 18m 33 seconds.

To break the record Ellen had to cross the line at 07:04GMT on Wednesday and so Ellen has succeeded in breaking the record by 1 days 8 hours 36 minutes and 49 seconds. B&Q sailed 27,354 miles through the water at an average speed of 15.9 knots. The new solo world speed record will need to be ratified by the WSSRC.

Ellen's shore team of Loick Gallon, Ollie Allard, Charles Darbyshire, Mark Thomas, Nick Moloney and Dr Kevin McMeel have now boarded B&Q Castorama and will help deliver B&Q Castorama the 100 miles to Falmouth where she is expected tomorrow morning.

Conditions at the finish line were relatively calm with a moderate 12-16 knot southeasterly breeze propelling B&Q Castorama at speeds from 18 to 20 knots. The WSSRC observer, Claude Breton, based at the lighthouse in Ushant counted down the finish time as a number of helicopters hovered above Ellen's 75ft trimaran filming the final moments of MacArthur's record attempt. The Royal Navy's HMS Severn stood off the line prepared to escort her across the Channel and into Falmouth. MacArthur's shore team are onboard ready to board the trimaran as soon as possible to help MacArthur sail the 100 miles to Falmouth.

A huge welcome reception is being planned in Falmouth for MacArthur's return. The trimaran will dock at Port Pendennis Marina and the public and over 300 media gathered here in Falmouth will be able witness her return from the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

B&Q Castorama is due to arrive at the entrance to Falmouth around 1100GMT.

"Right now I am elated," commented Ellen after she crossed the line. "I am absolutely drained. It has been a very tough trip. The whole South Atlantic was terrible for us. It has been one big draining event, but I'm obviously elated to be here. I have not looked anyone in the eyes for two months. To be able to see people is very special. So there are a lot of things going around in my head. It is great to be able to switch my head off wind speed or boat speed and to be able to relax in the comfort or others."

What did you think your chances were before you left? "You have to believe you can do it otherwise you won't have the motivation and drive to do it. To do it on the first attempt, I thought that was a close call. Francis [Joyon' agreed his record was beatable, but to do it on the first time... There have been lots of up and down of highs and lows.

"When I crossed the line I felt like collaspsing on the cockpit floor. When you cross the line it is over. I think that was the biggest emotion, one of huge release.

"Now I want to see my family. They have suffered through this with me, so I want them to know that I'm here, I'm still smiling and I am on my way home."

Previous record holder Francis Joyon paid tribute to Ellen: "I always said that Ellen was a serious contender, and I can see today that she has decided to prove me right. The mere fact that she was able to sail around the world non-stop was quite an exploit, but to smash the record at the same time fully deserves my warmest congratulations. Ellen achieved this result through her concentrated efforts. Her team worked hard and backed her before and during her circumnavigation, and she did not ever lose her resolve. Being well supported is one thing, but when you find yourself in the middle of the southern lows in this type of boat, you really feel very alone. Having experienced the deep south in a multihull, and with this memory still fresh on my mind, I know full well that this can be very tough on the nerves. I am sure that at times, it must have been very hard going, and I often thought about Ellen, when she was in some difficult patches with southwesterly winds and squalls violently pouring down on the boat. Her trimaran is big, there is a large surface area of sail, and in times like those, it is not her shore team that was able do much for her.

"I was hoping to keep the record for a bit longer, but it was not something that I put on a pedestal either. During the press conference following my arrival, I pointed out that in my opinion it was possible to improve on my time, taking into account my damage and the times when I was becalmed. However, I did not think it would be Ellen beating me so soon, and so magnificently. Once again, well done to her!"

Ellen's new singlehanded records:
Ushant-Equator 8d 18h 20m 7/12/04 0230GMT (taking 14h 3m off Joyon's time)
Ushant-Cape of Good Hope 19d 9h 46m 17/12/04 1756GMT (taking 10h 45m off Joyon's time)
Ushant-Cape Leeuwin 29d 14h 5m 27/12/04 2215GMT (taking 17h 24m off Joyon's time)
Ushant-Cape Horn 44d 23h 36m 12/1/04 0746GMT (taking 4 days 2h 45m off Joyon's time)
Ushant-Equator 60d 13h 35m 27/1/05 2145GMT (taking 1d 10h 50m off Joyon's time)
Equator-Equator record of 51 days, 19 hours and 15 minutes

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