As her boat limped with a wounded mast towards the finish line of the round-the-world race, Ellen MacArthur may have felt a little disappointed with the way her voyage is ending.

The British yachtswoman finished second in the Vendee Globe race, having pushed leader Michel Desjoyeaux all the way over a gruelling and life-threatening three months.

But Tracy Edwards, who knows a thing or two about taking a boat around the world's oceans, is ecstatic about the efforts of Britain's new queen of the waters.

"She's done brilliantly - for her to win the event would have been absolutely extraordinary," Edwards said.

All alone

"Just to get round in one piece is a remarkable achievement in itself."

There is, however, one huge difference between MacArthur and Edwards, who was the first female to complete the Whitbread Round the World race in 1990.

MacArthur arrived on the French shores 24 hours after race winner Michel Desjoyeaux - and with a grand reception awaiting her, the profile of sailing continues to rise.

Combined with Britain's multiple gold-winning efforts in the Sydney Olympics, Edwards is delighted with the current state of the sport, with women's sailing receiving particular praise.

"It's come along in leaps and bounds, and about time too," she said.

"I'd like to think our crew started the ball rolling and Ellen is the end product."

Edwards remains busy, having just released her autobiography, Living Every Second, and is project manager for the crew preparing for another go in this year's Jules Verne Challenge.

Edwards recalled the crew's heartache from three years ago of a broken mast ending their race after 43 days.

"It is unfinished business," Edwards said. And you know she is not joking.

MacArthur may well feel the same after a good night's sleep.