Dame Ellen MacArthur is the latest UK sailor to be given the Legion d’Honneur by France for making inspiring voyages. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will award Ellen with for her sailing exploits next week when he makes his state visit to the UK. After sailing down the Thames he will make the presentation at the Royal Naval College at Greenwich. Ellen, a fluent French speaker, is a sailing heroine in France.
Pete Goss is also revered there. He received the Legion d’Honneur for saving fellow sailor Raphael Dinelli in the 1996 Vendée Globe solo around the world yacht race during a severe storm in the Southern Ocean.