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Route du Rhum

Ellen MacArthur makes history by winning the Route du Rhum

she sets new monohull record between St Malo and Guadeloupe

vendredi 22 novembre 2002 – Information Route du Rhum

Ellen MacArthur on Kingfisher won the Route du Rhum 2002 in the 60-foot IMOCA monohull class today, Saturday November 23.

Ellen MacArthur was first over the start line in Saint-Malo, Saturday 9 November at 1345 French time, 1245 GMT. She crossed the finish line today, Saturday 23 November at 0216:47 GMT, Friday 22 November GMT 2316:47 local Guadeloupe time.


Photo : G.Martin-Raget / Promovoile / Marine Nationale

"I cannot say that that was easier than a Vendée [Globe race], it has taken every ounce of mental and physical energy that I possess" she said when arrived in Guadeloupe. "Mike [Golding, ECOVER] sailed a fantastic race, pushed us both to our limits and beyond - I am disappointed for him, but of course elated to have to held on to the lead.

"The final miles were tense. I share this victory with the team that helped me here. I didn’t get here alone though - this result is due to the hours of hard work and dedication of my team ashore, before and during the race, and a great team of technical partners.

"Something very special is that my relationship with my sponsor Kingfisher PLC began four years ago in this very same race, in a 50-foot monohull. So much has happened since then, so many powerful things, but none of them could of happened without the support of Kingfisher."

The previous record for monohulls in the Route du Rhum was 15 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes (Yves Parlier sur Cacolac d’Aquitaine en 1994), Ellen MacArthur has established a new record time on the course Saint-Malo/Pointe-à-Pitre, at 13 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes, 47 seconds.

Ellen MacArthur has raced a total of 3968 miles at the average speed of 12.9 knots, which means 417 miles longer than the orthodromic route (direct route following the curve of the earth), which is 3 551 miles.

The atmosphere here just sends shivers down your spine. Hundreds of lights from the little boats gathering up the little star easing towards the finish ribbon at 7-8 knots through the melee of well wishers. Thousands carpeted the beaches to welcome the Queen of the Ocean who, right till the very end remained entirely and utterly focused.

Her racing spirit exploding in the flares she sent off just minutes are crossing the line of this, surely one of the greatest, Route du Rhums in history !

Quotes from Kingfisher Challenges

All about Ellen

Solo, the competitors are helming, handling manoeuvres, spending hours analysing the charts, eating and drinking because they have to, slumbering whenever there is a moment, fighting fatigue, coping with stress, keeping a clear head in the ferocious lows of the North Atlantic, and pushing or holding back the speed of their fast machines across the Atlantic from Saint-Malo in Brittany, France to Pointe à Pitre in Guadeloupe in the French West Indies.

Ellen MacArthur, 26 years old, has made history today, being the first female skipper and the first Brit to win the monohull class of the Route du Rhum. In 1990 the world followed the fantastic victory of Florence Arthaud on her trimaran Pierre 1er, Ellen is now the new star of solo racing. Sylvie Viant, president of the race committee said earlier today, "Ellen MacArthur is the greatest female solo sailor in all time. She is brilliant in all categories, she speaks perfect French, she is natural, charming, intelligent, always eager to learn more, and never one hundred percent satisfied. She wants to learn more and more, through herself and from other experienced people, like Alain Gautier and Yves Parlier."

Ellen has a fantastic solo career on her record : In 1997, at the age of 21 she completed the Mini-Transat (17th), one year later, in 1998, she won the 50.foot monohull class of the Route du Rhum. She won the Europe 1 New Man Star in 2000 and was second in the Vendée Globe 2000/2001 (solo race around the world) ! A track record hard to beat for any of the top solo sailors of all time, and that at the age of 26 !

Ellen was second in the double handed Transat Jacques Vabre last year with Alain Gautier on the multihull Foncia, and has big plans for mulithull sailing in the future. A true star of sailing.

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