Return to the high seas
By Ellen MacArthur BBC Sport Online

Having completed the unenviable task of penning my autobiography, I'm looking forward to getting back into action against some top class competition on the water.

Starting 9 November, I'll be taking on some familiar faces in the Route du Rhum solo race from St Malo in France to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.

The transatlantic race, which began in 1978, has always been a major event in the sailing calendar and is as big as the Vendee Globe in France.

With 60 competitors entered in the various classes of monohull and multihull boats, this year promises to be the biggest race yet, so I'm really excited.

It'll also be good to see my old team-mate Nick Maloney in action in the under 60-foot monohull category.

I've been training for the last few weeks in Cowes, but go over to St Malo with my boat Kingfisher at the end of October.

Once I get there I won't be able to do much practice before the race because the boats are put on display for the hordes of sailing fans that descend upon the town.

Over one million people come to see the boats there, which is amazing even when you compare it to the World Cup.

Of course, I'm going to give it my all and try to win but you never know until you cross the finish line.