Having aborted the start of the Jules Verne yesterday morning, Ellen MacArthur and crew aboard Kingfisher2 headed for Plymouth to carry out mast track repairs. However, the extreme conditions last night made anchoring off the Sound difficult but the 110ft giant cat was finally made secure to allow repair work to begin.

Although conditions have been rough throughout the night the team has succeeded in repairing the faulty track. Apparently, the headboard car had been damaged which caused it to malfunction and damage the mast track. The replacement mast track was provided by Tracy Edwards from Maiden II.

Efficient team work means that Kingfisher2 may be able to leave for the start line within the next 36 hours. “We are keen to get back out there as soon as possible,” said MacArthur, “the wind is in the north for the next 48 hours and that’s what we want, although the sea state in the Channel is rougher than we would like.”