Dame Ellen MacArthur (in conjunction with Offshore Challenges)
Dame Ellen MacArthur is the fastest woman ever to sail single handed round the world and knows a thing or two about self-sacrifice. Captivated by the freedom of the sea after a sailing trip with her aunt, the young MacArthur studiously saved her school dinner money for many years until she could buy her first boat.
It’s a level of determination and commitment that most people find hard to comprehend. Then again, they are the very qualities you need in your locker when sailing solo across the world’s wildest oceans - a feat that only a tiny group of sailors feel able to tackle.
So having grown up in landlocked Derbyshire, MacArthur chose the sea in favour of university, living in a portakabin and enduring financial hardship in order to raise funds for her boat. Two replies from 2500 letters were hardly encouraging, but she was familiar with patiently waiting.
With the little money MacArthur and her business partner Mark Turner raised, she bought a 21-foot yacht in France and, aged 22, sailed across the Atlantic. Thanks to this effort, she received support from Kingfisher plc - first winning her class in the Route du Rhum transatlantic race. Then, in 2000/01, competing in the toughest of ocean challenges: the non-stop, single-handed, Vendée Globe round the world race.
Younger than anyone else, less experienced, and dwarfed by many of the other competitors, MacArthur captured the public’s imagination finishing second in just over 94 days.
Her sailing career truly up and running, MacArthur set her sights on a solo round the world record.
On 7 February 2005, she steered her Trimaran B&Q into Falmouth Harbour having set a new best of 71 days, 14 hours, 18mins and 33 seconds for the 27,354 mile journey. It was an inspirational effort - braving icebergs, huge Pacific swells and all manner of emotions that we can only guess at.
Since 2003, MacArthur has been sharing her love of the sea with young people recovering from cancer and leukaemia. Such has been the success of the Ellen MacArthur Trust that it has now expanded its sailing programmes to provide a unique experience for the children that join them.
Away from competition, MacArthur and Mark Turner have built Offshore Challenges into a highly successful organisation that is helping to develop sailing to new levels.
For enquiries contact Octagon
Personal details
Date of birth: 8 July 1976
Place of birth: Whatstandwell, Derbyshire
Honours and achievements
2005: Awarded DBE
2005: Set new solo non-stop round the world record on Trimaran B&Q
2003: Established Ellen MacArthur Trust
2002: Won Route du Rhum in record time
2001: Awarded MBE
2001: Finished second in Vendee Globe solo, non-stop round the world race. Fastest female and youngest sailor to do so
1995: Sailed around Britain alone. BT/YJA Young Sailor of the Year
1998: Won her class in Route du Rhom solo transatlantic race
1989: Buys her first boat
1984: Began sailing with aunt