Ellen MacArthur's column

Forging ahead
By Ellen MacArthur BBC Sport Online

Ellen MacArthur updates her experiences in the Route du Rhum. On Thursday, she took the lead in the monohull class.

I feel much happier this morning and have had a couple of hours of real recuperative sleep.

Kingfisher hits the front

I think that happened because I managed to get my feet warm for the first time in the race!

Outside, the breeze is really kicking in.

We got hit by a squall while I had the camera in my hand, and I got laid out flat

It has been down at 25 knots sometimes, but the squalls are really violent and the sea is very messed up.

I have no idea how the boat can handle this.

We got hit by a big squall while I had the camera in my hand, and I got totally wiped out and laid flat.

It'll make some good images if I ever manage to send them!

It doesn't surprise me to learn of Mike Golding's daggerboard problem.

Ellen's last update

I landed a huge wave a few hours ago and the first thing I thought was: How on earth can the daggerboard survive that?

Even so, with the wind direction as it is, the board is not so important now. I'm not sure it will affect Mike too much.

The wind is really kicking in now. It's up to 40 knots, jeeze 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 52. I'd better get back to work.