Ellen Macarthur

[audiracer]

seems like ellen has had a bit of a rough time the last few days, but i'm sure the members of this forum will be rooting her, i know i will

GOOD LUCK ELLEN

[kiwimarty]

She is still a winner in my heart Brett regardless how things turn out for her.

Kiwi.

[kiwimarty]

Latest email from Ellen on her website.


It's flat calm outside as we spend another 24 hour period on this incredibly flat sea... It's a strange sensation to be out here, still with the clock ticking but at the same time feeling utterly helpless and unable to make a difference. Here we have light winds, and that's that... We can sail
our optimum upwind - and that's the best we can do for now... It's actually quite beautiful, and having just a little time to rest, and recover in stable conditions has probably done me the world of good before what I am sure will be a stressful, stromy and tense final two weeks.. B&Q is as ready as she will ever be, I have checked, rechecked and hope that we can do no more.. I am OK - I think I've managed my time pretty well to try to de-tune a little and find myself again after the last few weeks of near exhaustion... That's a good thing I guess that has come out of this... Its incredible to think that we've been out here for almost 60 days, and that xmas and New year are all behind us.. It seems like only yesterday that we slipped our lines from Falmouth, seen off by a
fantastic flotilla of boats.. but on the other hand it feels like life onboard is almost all I know now, and that re-adjusting to another life 'the' other life wil be hard.. But hey.... we're still a couple of weeks away, so life here goes
on... In some ways I really am looking forward to finishing, to see everyone again, those I've been apart from for almost two months, I am tired and a bit beat up - and this journey drawing to an end will help that. But I think the main draw to the finish is to finally end the worry, pressure and strain that my mind and body is under right now. It's the not knowing - how we'll finish,
what will break, that's what takes it toll... Take the record away, and it simply becomes a voyage around the world - add the record again, and it becomes a very real and very arduous race...a race against time, my invisible competitor - but above all - a race against my own capabilities and myself...
exx

[pingu]

good luck ellen, & may the wind be at your back for the next 2 weeks

[pingu]

back on track with 36 hour lead but Doldrums approaching

[A fluff chucker]

Originally Posted by pinguprogress

good luck ellen, & may the wind be at your back for the next 2 weeks

Or as they say " may the wind be astern and not be your own "

To be a bit technical ( for those interested) it is better to have the wind on the stern quarter than directly astern.
Directly astern is an arduous balancing act to stop the gybe and you definitely run faster on a multi 'tacking downwind' even though you have to cover a greater distance and do more work.
I bet she'd love the wind just aft of the beam !
Knowing her, she'll do her best with any wind; just pray she doesn't lose the wind

[wellyfish]

so you know a bit about wind then fluff !!

[A fluff chucker]

Originally Posted by wellyfish

so you know a bit about wind then fluff !!

Yeah - but now, the wind astern is always my own .

Mind you, smells like roses

[wellyfish]

too much info now fluff

[bigfish]

Go girl GO!!!!