Ellen MacArthur started sailing with her aunt when she was eight. She loved it so much that she saved her money for three years to buy her first small sailing boat．When she was 18，she sailed alone around Britain and won the "Young Sailor of the Year" award．
But Ellen really became famous in 2001．Aged only 24，she was one of only two women who entered the Vendee Globe round the world solo race，which lasted 100 days．Despite many problems，she came second in the race out of 24 competitors and she was given a very warm welcome when she returned．
