In Transat to Brazil

Ellen's grit will be a key foil for Gaultier's experience

BBC sailing commentator Richard Simmonds previews the Transat Jacques Vabre race from the pre-start pit lane in Le Havre.

This Sunday, 14 extreme sailing machines - giant multi-hulls each raced by just two people - will draw thousands onto the dockside in Le Havre.

They are competing in the Transat Jacques Vabre, a 5,500 mile race across the Atlantic to the finish in Bahia, Brazil.

In France, this race is like the Vendee Globe in the public consciousness.

Foncia: Built for speed

And, like the Vendee, its celebrity is delivered through a combination of sporting triumph and tragedy.

This is a dangerous game and in the last race one skipper Paul Vatine lost his life.

It is also regarded as the pinnacle of the sport in France and many sailors hope to compete.

Many never make the grade, however, and most of those that do take years to get there.

That said, Ellen MacArthur took no time at all.

Within weeks of the Vendee Globe finishing, she had hooked up with Alain Gautier on Kingfisher-Foncia.

And, as one of the nine person crew, MacArthur raced on the European Formula One multi-hull circuit this Summer.

It was a circuit that provided her with an intensive course in top-speed sailing and valuable Orma World Championship points.

But being part of a nine person crew is a very different game to racing the brutal boats with just two.

Sleep is vital but often desperately difficult as the boat slams into waves any of which could deliver a nightmare situation

Richard Simmonds

Over the next three weeks MacArthur is likely to push herself to the limit - and sometimes beyond - in a world that would not just overwhelm but terrify most sailors.

Often, two of the three hulls are airborne as the boat screams over waves at speeds of up to 40 mph.

Steering needs nerve and finesse and at night visibility can shrink to zero.

But any natural inclination to slow down is not an option if finishing at the front is the aim.

Sleep is vital but often desperately difficult as the boat slams into waves any of which could deliver a nightmare situation.

When the weather is ugly and the waves are big, catastrophe is only a seconds away.

The boats can - and do - flip over and it would perhaps be a surprise if none of the 14-boat fleet did not do so during the race.

Ellen faces some extremely tough sailing

There are at least 10 boats that have the potential to win.

Kingfisher-Foncia is among them and it would be a shock - providing they steer clear of accident or incident - if Gautier and MacArthur do not finish inside the top five.

The team's strengths include a proven boat, Gautier's knowledge and established ability at this game and the chemistry between the Frenchman and MacArthur.

MacArthur is not the only British entrant in the race, however.

On Pindar, Emma Richards is in charge with Finland's Miki Von Koskull.

Richards, like MacArthur, has moved up from mono-hulls to this fleet, but she has multi-hull experience.

Fujifilm, with Loik Peyron in charge, will be potent if it stays together.

Launched in April this year, Peyron is confident that his machine is ready to fly.

Winning is likely to come down to making the right tactical calls from the start

Richard Simmonds

And if they are perfectly honed, Belgacom and Sergio-Tacchini will also be tough to beat.

Banque Populaire - with Lalou Roucayrol and Yves Parlier - is expected to be strong as is the recently rebuilt Biscuits La Trinitaine that started to fall apart in the mid-Atlantic ealier this year.

Winning is likely to come down to making the right tactical calls from the start.

And traversing the Doldrums is likely to be important part of the race.

It will be around 17 November before the first boats slide into Bahia for what we have been promised will be a quite spectacular reception.

Will MacArthur be amongst the first to enjoy it?

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BBC Sport Online will be following Ellen MacArthur's progress during the Transat Jacques Vabre and gives you the opportunity to ask her your questions en route to Brazil.

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