Ellen MacArthur's mental toughness helped her emerge onto a world stage in 2001.

It has been a record-breaking year for MacArthur, who came second in the Vendee Round the Globe yacht race.

In the process the 25-year-old became the fastest women around the world.

And she was greeted by huge crowds when she sailed into France to finish the gruelling race after 94 days at sea.

Narrow victory

MacArthur subsequently became one of the youngest-ever people to be awarded an MBE.

Just three months after completing the round the world race she was back in action in the 3,000 mile Challenge Mondial race.

MacArthur was navigator onboard Foncia, skippered by Frenchman Alain Gautier, which clinched a narrow victory over French rivals Belgacom.

Damaged

And she wasn't finished there, going on to finish second with Gautier in the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race.

Gautier and MacArthur spent more than 14 days at sea, travelling nearly 5,200 miles from France to Brazil.

The pair led until the last night when their boat was damaged.

However, the second place was enough to win her the Fico-Lacoste World Championship, which is based on points scored in ocean races.