Ellen MacArthur: A World Champion Sailor
Female Fastest Sailor: Ellen MacArthur Sails to Make a Better World
Aug 30, 2008
As a young schoolgirl growing up in England, champion sailor Ellen MacArthur, did not buy any school lunches for three years and bought her first small dinghy with her lunch money. She first sailed on a boat owned by her Aunt Thea on the east coast of England.
Three boats and three major solo voyages later, Ellen finds herself managing her new state-of-the-art 75 ft boat, which was built especially for MacArthur’s solo 2004 transatlantic 27,000 mile journey, which was one of the most incredibly challenging trips she has ever made. The voyage took her 7 days, 3 hours, 50 minutes to sail from the United States to England. This set a new transatlantic world record by a singlehanded solo female sailor.
In February 2001, Ellen sailed from England to Rhode Island in 14 days, 23 hours and 11 minutes. She was the youngest and fastest woman to sail around the world. Ellen is only the second person to sail a boat singlehandedly, or by herself, non-stop around the world.
Team Ellen represented a long term collaboration. Ellen joined forces with two other world champion sailors, Australian's Nick Moloney and France's Sebastian Josee on the iShares Cup Sailing series while teaming for "a better world campaign." Team Ellen seeks to promote the power of technology and communication to create a better world.
Ellen's sailing duties keep her busy from day to night. As a solo sailor, she is responsible for everything from running repairs to sails, rigging, electronics, and other equipment. She spends most time up on deck even in severe weather. On her latest boat, the B& Q, there is no shower, she eats freeze dried food and sleeps on the average 5 hours a night. Of course, she has major concerns: how to keep record pace, meteorology, navigation, and most recently, media duties.
People have also criticized her for being a loner but Ellen says she is most happy when she is alone at sea. As a solo sailor, she is responsible for everything from running repairs to sails, rigging, electronics, and other equipment. She spends most time up on deck even in severe weather. However, many people today admire Ellen not only for her achievements, but for her drive and will.
For Ellen MacArthur, England’s most famous sailor, Ellen helped changed the male image of sailors, who are often thought of as big, tough adventurers. Thanks to Ellen, people around the world do not see sailing as a rich sport suitable for men anymore.
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