Rhum challenge awaits
By Ellen MacArthur BBC Sport Online

Single-handed ocean racing is far easier than writing a book.

That is the conclusion I have come to since the beginning of this year, when I sat down in earnest to begin penning my autobiography.

MacArthur is preparing to go it alone again

It was a major, major task - very taxing - but I am really glad I did it, even though it was very difficult.

But it is all done now and I am gearing up for the Route du Rhum solo race from St Malo in France to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.

I will be racing with my old friend Kingfisher, starting on 9 November.

It is a very special race and is massive in France, second only to the Vendee Globe.

Almost one million people descend on the town before the start. It is huge with 56 entries in monohulls and multihulls.

All the top boats from all over the world are taking part, so it will be very competitive.

People say it is only across the Atlantic, which they say must be easy for me compared with the Vendee Globe around-the-world race.

But it is like looking at the difference between a 200m sprinter and a 1500m runner - you cannot say one puts in more energy than the other.

It is a very different racetrack and will be very tough in its own right.

My preparations have basically involved just sailing a lot, in all types of boats, tinkering with Kingfisher and keeping up my physical fitness.

At the moment I am seeing some electronics people to discuss the technology that we have on board.

We do not actually steer Open 60s all the time when we are out there on our own - we have electronics to do that.

That is why we are developing that side of things.

Kingfisher will be different but not radically different.

We have taken a lot of weight out of her over the winter.

Ellen MacArthur was second in the Vendee Globe

We have reduced weight in the rigging by changing the wires which hold up the mast from metal rods to a light-weight fibre.

As a result, we have been able to take some lead out of her keel.

We have also removed one of the engines which we had for charging batteries, so she is about a third of a ton lighter than she was last year which is quite a big weight saving.

That will definitely be a benefit in light airs - and that, together with the sail development programme, should make a difference.

I am really excited about getting back on the boat and racing.

It is going to be a great race and I am looking forward to it.

But it is looking like my last race in Kingfisher.

I am trying not to think about the emotional implications just yet - we have still got the Atlantic to cross.

Ellen MacArthur will be keeping us up to date with her preparations for the Route du Rhum and the Jules Verne record attempt.

She will also be giving us her thoughts on Britain's America's Cup bid.