For someone who has achieved in one year what many professional sailors fail to accomplish in a lifetime, Ellen MacArthur is still not satisfied.

Not content with becoming the youngest person to single-handedly circumnavigate the world in the Vendee Globe last year, MacArthur hopes to sail the world in the quickest time possible.

This time she will be part of a 12-strong crew competing in the 2003 Jules Verne race, aiming to beat the current record of 71 days and 14 hours.

To say she is ambitious would be a gross understatement.

But before contemplating the daunting task of taking on the world and all its elements, MacArthur has the small matter of competing in the Route du Rhum in November later this year.

The 3,000 mile single-handed Transatlantic race, France's second biggest sailing event behind the Vendee, begins in St Malo and ends in he tropical climate of Guadeloupe in the West Indies.

"It's all part of a five-year plan," said MacArthur, who will be racing her beloved Kingfisher, after announcing a new five-year sponsorship deal with the conglomerate.

"The Vendee Globe was an amazing experience and I couldn't wait to get back out there again and race on my own."

But the one notable event missing from her hectic schedule is the very race that earned her plaudits - the Vendee in 2004.

MacArthur will be sailing "Kingfisher 2", a new catamaran being specifically constructed for the demanding challenge.

Although the Jules Verne will take up the early part of 2003, MacArthur is planning on using the rest of the year to prepare for what she describes as her "ultimate goal" - the Route du Rhum in 2006.

"A new 60-foot trimaran, called Kingfisher 3, will be built for the race in four years time," she revealed.

"Her construction will be at the end of 2004, beginning of 2005."

In between all this, MacArthur will also be reacquainting herself with Frenchman Alain Gaultier for the Transat Jacques Vabre race, which begins in May 2003.

Rapid rise

The pair, who came second in the race across the Atlantic from France to Brazil in November 2001, will be sailing in Gaultier's new Foncia boat.

With so much accomplished last year, MacArthur has set herself a five-year schedule to make her achievements in 2001 pale in comparison.

But despite the front-page headlines, the 25-year-old still has her feet planted firmly on the ground.

"Five years ago, I was a long way from being where I am now - five years in the future is a long time," she said.

If Ellen continues to improve at her present rate, sailing fans should hold their breath and enjoy the ride.