Ellen MacArthur's column

Dangerous mission
By Ellen MacArthur BBC Sport Online

Ellen MacArthur updates her experiences in the Route du Rhum. On Monday, she was forced to make emergency repairs to her boat Kingfisher, involving a daring ascent up the 27-metre mast.

I just cannot believe it - every time we make a gain, we seem to get knocked back again.

Ellen's last update

I have had a shocker - the lashing that holds the gennaker halyard block to the top of the mast has broken.

It's a massive problem and if I don't fix it, Kingfisher will be at less than 100% for the rest of the race.

But I can't think of any way to fix it without climbing the mast.

It is going to be really dangerous because I can't get my leg between the mainsail and the mast to get a foothold and I only have part of the climbing equipment I need.

Anyway I don't have much choice - I've got to do it.

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What a mission!

I'm safe, I've done it and I'm back racing again.

Kingfisher hangs on to lead

Getting up the mast was not too bad although coming down was a nightmare - the boat was rolling around and I had nothing to hold on to.

I'm fine though - I talked to myself the whole way up and back down.

Now I will have to put this behind me and get on with the race again.