MacArthur off to good start

Feature: Sailing with Ellen

Ellen MacArthur has made a promising start to her attempt at the solo round-the-world speed record.

The 28-year-old is chasing the record of 72 days, 22 hours and 54 minutes set by Frenchman Francis Joyon.

Mark Turner, the head of operations at the control centre in Cowes, said: "She has had a pretty good first day and half.

"She's just 21 minutes behind Joyon's pace, so it's very close and a very good start for her."

Speaking from her state-of-the-art giant trimaran B&Q, MacArthur said she was relieved to have got her attempt under way.

"The overall emotion when I got to the start line was I just wanted to get on with it," she said.

"We've been working on this project for so long. There has been a massive build-up - building the boat, preparing the boat.

"Even the last few weeks in Falmouth were completely concentrated on that moment and then once I crossed the line I just wanted to get on with it.

"But at the same time there was this huge feeling of apprehension knowing just how hard this was going to be."