Sailing: MacArthur on brink of historic victory

Ellen MacArthur extended her lead in the monohull single-handed transatlantic Route du Rhum yesterday, but the Briton still faced a race to the line in Guadeloupe to see if she could also win the overall title and enter the history books.

MacArthur was within 50 miles of the finish line and heading for a historic win in the singlehanded Route du Rhum race from St Malo to Guadeloupe last night. She had a 90-mile lead on her nearest rival, fellow-Briton Mike Golding and, despite being likely to be slowed by evening breezes, seemed likely to break the race record set by Yves Parlier in Cacolac d'Aquitaine in 1994. To do that she needs to finish by 8.00am UK time tomorrow.

A dogged Golding said he was not giving up, although hobbled by the loss of both of his spinnakers and so down on horsepower. He, too, should beat Parlier's record.

For MacArthur, this is the last singlehanded race planned for her in Kingfisher, the boat she drove to second place and international fame in the 2000-01 Vendée Globe non-stop round the world race. Kingfisher II awaits her in Cowes, a 110-foot catamaran which, as Orange, set the Jules Verne Trophy record. That is her next goal and she will be joined by co-skipper Nick Moloney, who is leading the 50-foot class of the Route du Rhum.

Last night, with 1,200 miles to go and a 150-mile lead over the second boat in his class, Moloney said: "I'm following her progress and it's magnificent. She has had a really tough time and I am glad to see that everything is working out for her."

Michel Desjoyeaux was leading in the big multihull category about 800 miles from the finish line. He is one of only three remaining competitors in the category and is expected to arrive in Guadeloupe by early tomorrow. At one stage the Frenchman, who started a day after MacArthur, looked to have a chance of overall victory, but he has since lost ground.

MacArthur will not have the Jules Verne stage to herself as Tracy Edwards has said that she now has enough money to send a sistership to Orange, Grant Dalton's ClubMed, now carrying the name Maiden II. And Frenchman Olivier de Kersauson is also planning an attempt in his similar-sized trimaran.

Switzerland's Steve Ravussin had been leading the multihull category until he capsized on Wednesday, making him the 15th out of 18 boats to retire. His team said yesterday that Ravussin should be rescued this weekend. A tugboat that set out from Guadeloupe is expected to rendezvous with Ravussin and his TechnoMarine trimaran, drifting upside down with a mast broken in three parts, tomorrow.

"My only pleasure are the few dolphins who have come by to keep me company," the 34-year-old told his team by radio. He was 734 miles from the finish line on Wednesday when he was woken by the squall that ended his race.