Kingfisher needed repair work after the crash

The team slowed to just under four hours behind record pace - 64 days set by Bruno Peyron's Orange last year - after stopping to repair daggerboard damage following a collision with a submerged object on Wednesday morning.

But at 1500 GMT on Thursday, Kingfisher 2 was back on track and bubbling along at 16 knots in glorious weather off Marion Island about 2185 miles south east of South Africa.

"Conditions are absolutely magnificent. We have sun and we have good breeze," MacArthur told the BBC Sport website.

"It's just not like the Southern Ocean. It's incredible and yet we're at almost 47 degrees south.

You musn't forget that the actual record is still Orange's Elen MacArthur

"It's not going to be like this for the whole time so we're all making the most of it being so wonderful.

"At the moment all the routing shows we should pass south of Kerguelen Islands but we are still too far away to say for sure."

MacArthur was forced to stop Kingfisher 2 to inspect the damage and make repairs and lost almost four hours to Jules Verne rival Geronimo.

The giant trimaran, skippered by Frenchman Olivier de Kersauson, set off two weeks before MacArthur and is just over 60 hours ahead of record pace and closing on Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.

But MacArthur remained upbeat about her chances of breaking the record, whether it be Orange's or a new mark set by Geronimo.

"Knowing that someone's faster does make a difference because you push yourself a little bit harder," said MacArthur.

"But equally you musn't forget that the actual record is still Orange's. Geronimo has not finished yet.

"Sure, their chances of finishing are getting higher but things can change very quickly.

"So you have to be confident it's possible but not over confident.

"I don't think that's a good thing. It's not over until it's over. We've got to finish first.

"That's the most important thing."