Exhausted MacArthur still ahead

Map: Ellen's route Feature: Chay Blyth's verdict

Ellen MacArthur was battling unstable weather on Wednesday as she led Francis Joyon's round-the-world record by two days 21 hours after 16,000 miles.

She reported violent changes in wind direction and speed, yo-yoing between 12 and 46 knots, and extreme fatigue due to constant attention to sails.

MacArthur said: "I have never been this bad, I'm totally exhausted. It's impossible to rest."

However, winds are set to become more favourable over the coming days.

As I watched the storm pass over my skin stung as the hefty hailstones banged into me Ellen MacArthur

On Tuesday, MacArthur told of hail and lightning storms in the frozen waters of the Pacific Ocean.

"There are many angry clouds which come in towards us like angry demons to attack us with their angry gusts," added MacArthur.

"As I watched the storm pass over us my skin stung as the hefty hailstones banged into me.

"Poor B&Q has been stopping and starting like there's no tomorrow. It's frustrating and exhausting with so many sail changes."

Grandstand discussion area Chat about Ellen's progress

MacArthur has approximately 10,000 miles left and must finish on 9 February to break the existing record.

Her next target is Cape Horn, about 4,000 miles to the east, where she will exit the Southern Ocean and return to the Atlantic.