h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

8th February 2005

Yesterday evening at 10.29pm GMT Ellen MacArthur became the fastest round the world single handed sailor ever, and a girl and British to boot

Having taken time out from other things to watch on TV as Ellen MacArthur brought her trimaran triumphantly in to Falmouth, I am stunned at her courage and endurance, indeed True Grit. This was such a massive undertaking for such a tiny human being and I am delighted she has had such spectacular success.

To break a record only a year old, which looked to stand for years to come, is some achievement. I didn't follow her on the Internet because my computer is too slow on a heavily overloaded web site, but I caught up with her progress on TV.

Now (almost )a Dame, I find it rather pathetic that some people say she didn't do it on her own - she had all this technology at her disposal, and a huge support team back home. But they were exactly that - Back Home

None of that was any use when she had to climb up the damaged mast in atrocious conditions, when the generator broke down, when she hit her head, or burned herself. None of them were there to her when she was utterly drained and exhausted, or to help with the sail changes, or fight the storms.

None of them helped her avoid a collision with an iceberg or a whale. She did all that, and 27,000 miles of sailing ALONE. All that technology entailed a lot of extra work, gave her virtually no privacy and would have been little help if things had really gone wrong.

Nothing should be allowed to take away from the sheer grit, physical and mental strength, dedication and determination she has shown over the last two and a half months. Yes, she does it because she wants to, but I am sure it has advanced the science of boatbuilding, given valuable information about the need for sleep and a very good idea of just what a healthy human body CAN do.

Like thousands of others both in Falmouth and round the world, and via the Internet, I felt very, very proud of her and for her parents. The relief for them must be enormous.



Websailor

Traveller in Time only seen the arrival on the news
" Truly a great effort "

TV teletext, says she was going to be a dame, the moment her foot touched dry land( pre done officialdom), but she done well has lass

Bravo to her !

Other than fire being out in the ocean alone is a very scary thought to me.
I think she is very brave.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/sailing/4246831.stm



Well done girl, you showed the buggers!!!

zdt

I am totally disinterested in all sporting events but you have to hand it to Ellen - she is magnificent and I, like everyone else, am very proud of her.

How such a little girl could handle that enormous boat on those trecherous seas is beyond belief. Any normal mortal would be too terrified to even contemplate such a journey. And her parents must be in hell the whole time she is away. She truly deserves her Damehood and I am sure she will make Sportswoman of the year (who else could match up). Well done Ellen - we all love you

Hi, Carole,

I am with you on sporting events - definitely , but this is something else. I have followed two Global Challenge Round the World Yacht races, as well as John Ridgway's voyage to Save the Albatrosses and other sailing events.

Quite apart from anything else, look at the jobs created, or maintained, the publicity for this country, and the amount learnt about a human being from those scientists and monitoring her. The design of yachts and other boats has improved enormously over the years, much of it stemming from sailing and space technology.

I bet it didn't do Falmouth any harm yesterday either

Websailor

"There is nothing like a dame
"Dame Ellen MacArthur..."

I would not do what she has done for anything in the world. I think she is quite extraordinary and I regard her with an enormous amount of respect - but absolutely NO Envy!!

How will she ever settle down?
With another explorer perhaps?

Also Ran1

Hi, A1,

It sure takes dedication - from the age of 4 Heaven help any man who came between her and the sea I think

" Lord help the mister who comes between me and my *boat* " Well, you know what I mean

Many of the Round the sailors have gone on to other things - writing books or restoring a stately home come to mind - but John Ridgway has just done it again at 65 so she has a long sailing career ahead of her if she wishes.

When I watched the flashing as she sailed into the Record Books, I was struck very forcibly by how vulnerable the trimaran was. Her lights were tiny and barely visible. I was also impressed that her boat was longer than the the Global Challenge yachts, by 3 feet.

A1, there was one thing about her trimaran that neither of us would like - no shower

BTW, are you still nice and cosy and suitable bathed


Websailor

Very dear web sailor

Clean as a whistle and warm as toast my dear!!

I wonder how I ever put up with it. It was so stupid of me!!

The trimaran from the air looked like some huge primitive sea monster. I would have been so lonely I am sure.

Anyway, it takes nothing away from her enrmous bravery and courage.

I love Falmouth and it was good to see her landing there. Apparently Falmouth has the third deepest harbour in the world. So interesting up the river Fal. I could still walk when I went there seven years ago.

Also Ran1

A1,

You make me feel so humble when I moan about my aches and pains. I am chuffed you are warm and cosy. This silly weather keeps changing, and my heating is never in sync.

I haven't been to Falmouth, though I love other parts of Cornwall. I am glad you were able to walk then and have some good memories. I hadn't realised you had been in a WC that long. May I ask what happened? I found you on HooToo a bit late so if you have told us before, or do not want to talk about it, I do apologise.

I watched E MacA on ITV last night. She is one tough cookie.



Websailor

We found out last night that not only did people come from all over England to see Ellen arrive at Falmouth, but from Europe also. We had a Spanish man stay at our B&B. He had heard she would be arriving in Falmouth on Tuesday, booked a week off work and flew from Barcelona to Bournemouth then hired a car and motored down to Cornwall. He was on his way back last night when he stayed with us. Just thought I would share that gem with you all.

Hi, Carole,

Thanks for that litte gem. It confirms what I said earlier about it doing Falmouth, and further afield no harm at all. I suspect the event announced yesterday will do the same, in spite of the controversy. Are you busy at this time of year?

Dropped in on Lelly yesterday, but she is obviously busy or her boss has caught her as there is no response yet!

Websailor

Hey Websailor

Thanks for your message - I am not sure that Lelly knows people leave her messages and that she can reply to them. I must have a word with her. I think she goes on, on her own computer, in the evenings, so no boss to worry about there (except her husband, but he's away at the moment) And, like the rest of us, she takes bog all notice of anything he says!!

No, we don't have many visitors at this time of the year - just the odd businessman passing by or a househunter or two - but this year has been quieter than most. In fact the little Spanish guy last night caught us unawares - I had to rush round and dust a bit while he was unloading his bag from his car!

Well, bye for now
Carole

Carole,

<<(except her husband, but he's away at the moment) And, like the rest of us, she takes bog all notice of anything he says!!>>

Oh, I you They are Victors all, it seems to me (of One Foot in the Grave, just in case you didn't guess).

I look forward to a message from a fellow "sufferer"

Websailor

Dear Websailor

Nice to read your note. No! I do not mind talking about being in a wheelchair because I feel so lucky to have one. At least I can get around and also be comfortable.

I suffer from psoriatic arthritis. Whcih has affected all the joints in my body. It eats away at the cartilage, so that all movements become very paintful. It started years ago in Africa, but apparently the sun and the sea must have kept it under control. (I did not know I had it - had various diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis to plain obesity!!)

After emergency open heart surgery in 1994 - I had an aneurysm in my left coronary artery - wonderful diagnosis by a wonderful cardiologist!!) things have got worse. Anway, I am now on a good pain killer - not so good for heart patients though!!).

My latest problem though - which actually has been going on for over two years) is the fact that I get septic toes.(I sadly have also got diabetes!!) I think I run over my feet with my wheelchair and cannot feel it!. Anway, I cannot feel the sore toes, and now once again I have done a demolition job on myself and have a bandaged toe and am on huge antibiotics. As I can neither feel it nor see it, I feel a fraud.

I am long past my sell by date my dear but still love every moment of living and doing what I am doing.

Just had a phone call to tell me that my bath lady is coming in ten minutes. Must to go and enjoy my lovely hot water = with my foot in a plastic bag.!!

I really think I am incredilbly lucky so please do not take this as a moan!!.

With affection

Also Ran1

Poor Websailor - but do we let them get us down? Noooo. They all seem to turn into Victor around the age of 40 (Lelly and I think).
Suddenly they don't seem to laugh much any more and the negativity sets in "Oh no, that's a bad idea" "Oh you can't do that" "Why would you want to do that" - sound familiar? But like I say - we take bog all notice and do our own thing anyway. Well mostly. I have to say my husband and I have a great partnership and we do discuss and agree on the major things. It's our Ruby Wedding in June so it can't have been so bad!! And Lelly has been married nearly 12 years too - they just get so grumpy don't they?

Actually I think we have the real Victor here in our village - I can't say too much because I really think he is. In fact, he was a neighbour of David Renwick before he moved here and DR still sends him a Christmas card (well he made a lot of money out of him I reckon don't you?) So we have to keep schtumm.

Best wishes
Carole

Oh my God, how did I post that message on that page! Gremlins in the computer

Oh I see what happen ed - Alsoran popped in while I was composing my entry!

Al,

<> - does that have any connection with psoriasis? There was a discussion about arthritis on our local radio station the other day and it was mentioned as connected.

My goodness, A1, you don't do things by halves do you How on earth do you cope with that lot Still, having talked to you for a while I get the feeling you have never done things by halves in your life< so why should illness be any different

I won't say I hope you are FEELING better soon, since you can't feel it, but I hope the latest affliction gets better soon.

As for being "past your sell by date" I doubt that, you have too much life in you, and a sense of humour, so unless I am talking to a then you will not be past your sell by date for a long time yet

for now


Websailor