Sailing: MacArthur battles past light winds

Although she was slightly slowed up by a ridge of high pressure and light winds, Ellen MacArthur avoided any serious damage to her progress up the South Atlantic as she attempts, in her 75ft trimaran, B&Q, to set a new record for sailing solo round the world.

Although she was slightly slowed up by a ridge of high pressure and light winds, Ellen MacArthur avoided any serious damage to her progress up the South Atlantic as she attempts, in her 75ft trimaran, B&Q, to set a new record for sailing solo round the world.

Yesterday, she still had nearly four days in hand on the target of 72 days and 22 hours, but was feeling the tiring effects of having to alter the direction of the boat to suit winds which were also shifting in strength.

Ahead of her, the leading trio in the Vendée Globe round-the-world race was making progress towards the equator and the crossing back into the northern hemisphere - first-placed Vincent Riou should do that today - but Mike Golding, in third place, was making no impression on his 235-mile deficit as Jean Le Cam took about 30 miles out of Riou to be 100 miles behind in second position.