MacArthur must beware Cape Horn

By Alex Trickett

B&Q FACTFILE Mast: 99ft (30.6m) Length: 75ft (22.9m) Cabin: 5ft x 7ft (1.5m x 2m) Start: 28 Nov 0810 GMT Record: 72 days, 22hrs 55mins Must end: 9 Feb 07:04:06 GMT Most miles in 24hrs: 484.5 Average speed: 15.4 knots Distance: Approx 26,000 miles Map: Ellen's route in detail

Ellen MacArthur may be ahead of schedule as she bids to beat Francis Joyon's solo round-the-world record, but there is plenty of danger ahead.

After weathering several strong storms, the 28-year-old Briton is nearing the end of her passage through the treacherous Southern Ocean.

But legendary yachtsman Sir Chay Blyth has warned that MacArthur's attempt will still be in the balance as she makes the turn for home.

"She has done remarkably well," Blyth told BBC Sport.

"But Cape Horn is fraught with danger and is prone to huge and unpredictable swells."

Blyth should know. In 1984, he capsized at the Cape during a New York-to-San Francisco record bid and spent 19 hours in icy water before help arrived.

MacArthur must round the Cape - situated at the tip of South America - before charting her route north towards the equator and on to the finish between France and Britain.

"She's looking pretty good now and will be confident, having got this far without major damage," said Britain's Blyth, who in 1971 became the first man to sail non-stop westwards around the world.

The person whose time you are chasing becomes real in your mind - in my case, he was dead, but he seemed to be there all the time Sir Chay Blyth

"But if she were to suffer major damage, she'd be in serious trouble very quickly.

"This challenge is not like running a mile - it takes endless concentration because anything can go wrong at any time."

Life on board has been far from easy for MacArthur, who must keep on top of a list of running repairs to her trimaran B&Q.

She expends so much energy that she needs to eat 5,000 calories per day in the form of freeze-dried delights like organic couscous and spaghetti bolognaise.

And yet MacArthur spends 70% of her time cooped up in tiny living quarters, which feature a bunk, a chart table, some navigation equipment and little else.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER ELLEN? Ellen eats 5,000 calories a day Meals are freeze dried Water is made by a desalinator Typical main meals Spag bol or veg curry Potatoes with spinach & cheese Organic couscous with lentils Chicken and cashew nuts Selection of snacks 72 muesli bars 24 tubes of Werthers toffees 11 packets of chewing gum 60 chocolate bars Ellen profile

"She has been fortunate enough to secure the funding to get a high-tech and exciting boat," added Blyth.

"But having got that, it then takes a lot of handling and immense skill to drive that 90ft-boat. Given her size, that is truly impressive."

Blyth thinks 5ft 2in MacArthur will be in pole position if she reaches the doldrums - an area of light winds near the equator - on time.

"This section will be OK for Ellen because her boat - which was carefully chosen - will sail in no wind at all.

"But even then, her troubles will not be over, because it is a famous saying that 'races are won and lost in light winds'.

"That's the paradox of sailing. When the wind is up, you have to take chances, go fast and risk disaster.

"When the wind is calm, you have to work very hard for every gust. Either way, it's tough."

Indeed, Ellen's main problem has been balancing her natural desire to go for more speed, against the knowledge that risking too much could spell disaster.

Being the only person aboard means no rest, and no second opinion, though she is in constant communication with her shore team.

MacArthur pushed herself very hard for the first few weeks and admitted before Christmas she was close to pulling out.

I have never been this bad - I'm totally exhausted Ellen MacArthur Exhausted MacArthur still ahead Ellen reaches breaking point

Since then she has been trying to take better care of herself, wearing a bio-monitor on her arm to measure stress, sleep and energy consumption so her team can tell when she is reaching critical sleep-deprivation levels and tell her to rest.

But she is still sleeping for no more than 30 minutes in one go - and sometimes as little as five - and is averaging less than four hours in 24 for her 38 days so far.

At the forefront of Ellen's mind is the need to keep ahead of Joyon's time - because the Frenchman picked up huge gains going up the east of Cape Horn, recording 500-mile plus days (Ellen is averaging about 420).

Blyth also says that solo sailing against the clock has its particular psychological problems.

"Racing against time is a bit frustrating because there are no opponents to chase," he said.

"So the person whose time you are chasing becomes real in your mind. In my case, he was dead, but he seemed to be there all the time - just ahead or behind."

If MacArthur beats Joyon, few will disagree with Blyth's final assessment - that "all of Britain will bask in her success".

Joyon smashes sailing mark