MacArthur on course for record books

Ellen MacArthur was heading for the record books last night as the fastest person ever to sail around the world solo non-stop.

The exhausted 28-year-old from the Isle of Wight was expected to pass the finish line off Ushant, France in her 75ft trimaran B&Q at around midnight Irish time last night.

If she does, she will have sailed 27,000 miles around the world in 71 days and 15 hours bettering the record set by Francis Joyon by about one day and seven hours.