Country talked to diminutive Dame Ellen MacArthur, heroine of the high seas, on the eve of a new sponsorship deal with BT. Britain’s youngest ever Dame (born July 1976) has dominated the headlines since she seized second overall on the 2001 Vendee Globe race.
The 5 foot 2 inch bundle of focussed determination told the Sunday Times, ‘it’s not about being the first woman—it’s about being first.” Setting a new round-the-world record at 27,534 miles in 71 days, 14 hours 18 minutes and 33 seconds in a trimaran, Dame Ellen famously proved her point.
Today, the Derbyshire-born Ellen lives on the Isle of Wight and fizzes from project to project. Her charitable foundations embrace the Ellen MacArthur Trust, which has hosted the thrills of sailing for 350 British children.
My Motoring Life: Dame Ellen Macarthur
CGA - Country Magazine.
Motoring/Sport feature
Motoring/Sport feature
Her motoring prowess—she has “toyed in rallying’-- was highlighted on BBC Top Gear. Ellen became the absolute star in Suzuki’s Reasonably Priced Car. Dame Ellen’s time beat all celebrity comers, and was within 4/100ths of second versus 1997 World Champion Damon Hill!
Ellen’s motoring memories extend back to giggling at:“taking my test in Buxton Derbyshire, over lots of hilly bits at 20. I Think I upset the examiner, because I saw a squirrel run under the car. When I was asked to move away, I said there was a squirrel under there. After that debate, there was no squished squirrel, but I also failed my first test!”
Her vehicles have always had boats and towing requirements. She had a tough Mercedes G-wagen before a commercial arrangement with Renault took her into the use of their Espace MPVs. She remains appreciative of Espace virtues commenting, “they have made perfect support vehicles. Adaptability is their key asset, because we can take seats out, or carry seven people and tow smaller boats. Over five years we’ve used three Espaces, all diesels, and two vans. There are more glamorous cars, like the Range Rover for towing, but the Espace is my choice.”
Today her pet motoring hates are, “parking—people are so inconsiderate, and those who lack spatial awareness. So they just pull across three lanes of traffic, regardless.”
Some media have it that this Dame is difficult, but the chortling 41 minutes 53 seconds interview was an absolute delight. Truly, an inspiration, but order an electricity sub-station to stay on her sparky pace!
Ellen’s motoring memories extend back to giggling at:“taking my test in Buxton Derbyshire, over lots of hilly bits at 20. I Think I upset the examiner, because I saw a squirrel run under the car. When I was asked to move away, I said there was a squirrel under there. After that debate, there was no squished squirrel, but I also failed my first test!”
Her vehicles have always had boats and towing requirements. She had a tough Mercedes G-wagen before a commercial arrangement with Renault took her into the use of their Espace MPVs. She remains appreciative of Espace virtues commenting, “they have made perfect support vehicles. Adaptability is their key asset, because we can take seats out, or carry seven people and tow smaller boats. Over five years we’ve used three Espaces, all diesels, and two vans. There are more glamorous cars, like the Range Rover for towing, but the Espace is my choice.”
Today her pet motoring hates are, “parking—people are so inconsiderate, and those who lack spatial awareness. So they just pull across three lanes of traffic, regardless.”
Some media have it that this Dame is difficult, but the chortling 41 minutes 53 seconds interview was an absolute delight. Truly, an inspiration, but order an electricity sub-station to stay on her sparky pace!