Sailing: 2003 predictions

Ellen MacArthur BBC sailing expert looks ahead to 2003

FUTURE STARS

Paul Brotherton
Look out for Paul Brotherton to make a strong push for a place at the Athens Games of 2004.

Brotherton's 2002

World Sailing Games in Marseille: Bronze medal in a four-man keelboat

World Championships in Hawaii:
Bronze medal in a 49er

Brotherton, a professional coach and veteran of the 1992 Olympics, is one of the most natural sailors I have ever sailed with.

Olympic gold medallists Ben Ainslie and Shirley Robertson are already established stars but they should shine in the Olympic trials, in different classes to Sydney.

Review: Sailing 2002

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PREDICTIONS

Top tips

Kingfisher 2 to break Jules Verne record

Alinghi to win America's Cup

New Foncia to win Transat Jacques Vabre

Jules Verne record
My first big project this year is the Jules Verne race, a round-the-world record attempt that I am leading on the newly-launched Kingfisher 2.

If all goes to plan, we should set sail from France this month, and we hope to be back in European waters within 65 days.

It will be tough and unpredictable, but fingers crossed, we'll beat the record.

Later in the year, I am personally looking forward to the Transat Jacques Vabre, a two-handed mono-hull and multi-hull slog from Le Havre, France to Salvador in Brazil.

I'll be racing hard with my old friend Alain Gaultier on board his boat New Foncia.

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POTENTIAL SHOCK

Kiwi loss
The America's Cup draws to its conclusion in February, with either Alinghi or Oracle vying to claim Team New Zealand's throne.

Look for a close and gripping final series, which could be shaded by Russell Coutts' Alinghi team.