Britain's Ellen MacArthur received a raptuous welcome when she sailed her trimaran into Falmouth harbour today. MacArthur became the fastest person to sail solo round the world last night after completing her journey in just over 71 days and 14 hours to break a record set last year.
Crowds of wellwishers gathered in Falmouth on the south-west coast of England to welcome her home, and her trimaran was escorted towards the harbour by a flotilla of around 100 boats
"It's overwhelming," she said of the exuberant reception. Dancing with delight on the deck, she held two flares aloft and then sprayed champagne over the crowd.
"I am absolutely drained" added the 28-year-old MacArthur who said she was physically and mentally exhausted after sleeping in snatches of no more than 20 minutes over the past two months.
Her time of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds shaved more than 32 hours off the previous world record set by Frenchman Francis Joyon, who smashed the previous mark by 21 days in what had been described as the perfect sail.
MacArthur's supporters cheered and chanted as they watched her cross the line around 2229 GMT.
MacArthur shot to fame in 2001 when she finished second in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race, becoming the youngest person to sail round the world solo and the fastest woman.
MacArthur has battled hurricanes, dodged icebergs and whales and endured sleepless nights on route through some of the world's most notorious weather spots - past the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and round Cape Horn in South America.
Throughout the 26,000 mile challenge MacArthur's backup team stayed in constant touch from their base on the Isle of Wight. Weather centres in Germany and the United States advised her how to handle approaching weather fronts in the multi-million pound operation.
MacArthur reached Cape Horn five days ahead of time, but a serious gale knocked her back and she entered the Atlantic a day off the record, according to her team.
Although a fast run up the Atlantic clawed back her advantage, dead winds around the Azores islands threatened to kill off her challenge right at the end.