Well, it is a momentous day, and I don't care what anyone else says, Ellen Macarthur is a star! I've been listening to the radio today getting increasingly irritated by people saying "What's the point?" "She's not brave, she chose to do it" "She's a whinger" whatever. Well, I reckon they should try to emulate her achievment and most of them would not even make it to the start line.

Yes, it is her past time, just like running is a past time for Kelly Homes, and not everyone likes sailing...don't think there are many people who like sprinting round a track either! Maybe it's because in an age where the public attention span is too short, the fact it has taken Ellen 71 days to complete her challange is just too long. The public want instantaneous satisfaction of winning or losing. Other say it is because sailing is eliteist. Well, so is rowing when most of our good ones are Oxford or Cambridge graduates, but we all applauded Matthew Pinsent and his crew didn't we? Makes me mad.

Can't we just accept that as individuals we may never achieve something of this significance, but that we admire those who do? She is a British woman, lets embrace her achievment!!

I've been reading her book (for some time now, as I don't seem to have much time to read!) and it is a fab read, even though I don't know one end of a boat from another, and as for the different types of sails, well that is beyond me. But just seeing the effort that goes in to her getting to the race, never mind completing it, is remarkable. Of course she has a team of people around her for their expertise and advise, but we all know other sportsmen & women have nutritionalists, coaches, physios etc working with them to reach their optimum performance.

So, for Ellen, raise a glass, a pancake, whatever, in salute of her achievment and put a sock in the mouth of any decenting voices around you!

End of rant.