Ellen MacArthur returned to Southampton (UK) yesterday on board Kingfisher. A flotilla of spectator boats escorted Kingfisher from The Needles to the thousands of spectators waiting at Ocean Village, Southampton to welcome Ellen home.

After finishing the punishing Vendée Globe single handed race round the world in 2nd place after 94 days on Sunday 11 February, MacArthur’s story has taken the world by storm.

Following yesterday’s UK arrival and press conference Ellen MacArthur is now returning to Les Sables d’Olonne to welcome home as many of the remaining Vendée Globe competitors as she can. The solidarity and bond between these Vendée skippers is unbreakable as only they know what each other have had to endure to finish this race. Fourth place skipper Marc Thiercelin (Activewear) is due to arrive at the weekend followed by Thomas Coville (Sodebo) and Domonique Wavre (UBP) early next week.

Ellen MacArthur will then return to London with her boat Kingfisher for one day on Wednesday 21 February for a Kingfisher VIP reception at St Katherine’s Dock and MacArthur will sail the 60′ boat under Tower Bridge (to be confirmed for 0945 hrs). Between 1700 – 1800 hours it will be possible to get close to KINGFISHER in her berth.

After 21.2.01 the boat Kingfisher will go to Paris to go on display on the Seine near the Eiffel Tower. MacArthur will be making an appearance in Paris between the 8th and 11th of March until that date Ellen will continue to meet as many skippers as possible at Les Sables d’Olonne and to spend time with her friends and family.