Personal Blog of Ellen MacArthur

There was a really fantastic atmosphere in Plymouth for the start of the Artemis Transat. It was the fourth start that I’ve been at since I began my career in sailing, and, I have to say, definitely the most vibrant for the public. Sutton Harbour was absolutely buzzing with people of all ages, wandering through the rows of French market stalls, and looking out across the water to the huge colourful boats sitting in their starting blocks ready to take on the Atlantic.

I really enjoyed talking to people, and hearing their comments as they looked out over the boats. The weather was great, which led to a very relaxed atmosphere amongst the teams getting the boats ready for the race, and the bars and restaurants by the water were packed all week.

I was also visited by a lady who’s been a fan for a long time called Barbara Tilston. She came down to the docks to present me with three beautiful paintings which she had painted of Mobi (the tri I took round the world). Thanks, Barbara!

On the start day itself, I spent sometime with our sponsors BT – talking to them about just what it would be like on the first night at sea for the sailors, and about how they will be setting sail onto a 2-week non-stop conveyor belt.

I then stepped into my naval uniform (I am a Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Naval Reserve) to join HMS Argyll who held her position at one end of the start line. The view from the upper deck was fantastic, the race boats slipped away in the light afternoon breeze. The difference for the sailors between a start where the wind is howling through the rigging and a start with light winds is really huge. I have started races in a force 6 to 7 before, and waking on the start day to the noise of a storm makes your stomach churn. There are enough nerves as it is trying to take an IMOCA 60 race boat over the start line, let alone in a gale…

Ellen

Last week I attended the Institute of Directors Conference at the Royal Albert Hall. It was a really interesting event with a truly outstanding array of speakers including international business leaders and entrepreneurs. Guest speakers included Bob Geldof, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Dame Fiona Reynolds, CEO of the National Trust, BA’s Willie Walsh and actor/director Kevin Spacey who all gave inspirational leadership messages for the 3,000 delegates.

It was fascinating to see that sustainability was one of the main themes throughout the conference and the fact that we need to move towards working, and of course, living in a more sustainable way. People weren’t talking merely about business, but about the basic building blocks of life, they were stirring emotions with their speeches and making people think. Yes, it was a conference for Directors of Businesses, but there was a real theme of ‘doing the right thing’ which I found both surprising and refreshing.

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to speak to business leaders about my own passion to tackle sustainability. I was wondering just how to address such an audience full of CEO’s and influential people, and I drew to the conclusion that ‘stories work’ so decided to tell a few stories from my life which I feel have taught me a lot. From the absolute necessity of managing your resources at sea, to talking about my first hand experiences of seeing the old abandoned whaling stations and the mis-management of resources on the island of South Georgia in the Southern Ocean. Ultimately, what had been a flourishing whaling industry on South Georgia became unsustainable as whales were killed in such large numbers that the population disappeared completely. The lesson from this is that it is only sensible that all businesses become sustainable as the very meaning of the word ‘sustainable’ implies that the business can continue to exist.

We all have a stake in the planet on which we live, and it’s time for employers to give their staff a stake in energy efficiency measures they’re being asked to implement. If a business is to be sustainable, keeping and motivating its employees is a key element of that. Employers and employees must work together as a team to share the dream of the future of the business so that everyone is an integral part of it and takes responsibility for their own management of resources.

Ellen

The night of the Eco-Island conference (Wednesday 26^th March), I shot over to the mainland for a State Banquet at Windsor Castle with Her Majesty the Queen and her guests. It was in honour of French President Sarkozy’s visit to the UK and it was quite incredible to play a small part in it. The dinner at Windsor Castle was a grand affair, with some very interesting guests; it’s not every day that you pull up to the gates of Windsor Castle for dinner!

The following day was a busy one for me with preparations for being presented with the Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest decoration. I was receiving the award at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich in the Painted Hall which was an impressive place in itself. I was pretty nervous in the morning having the acceptance speech to give. It’s never easy speaking in front of people anyway, but when you are effectively addressing a nation which has been so kind to you, you want to get it right!

It was just fantastic to see so many friends and colleagues there. Even Mum and Dad made it down to London! Three of the young people from the Ellen MacArthur Trust were there, Sam Ledster, Maxine Duggins and Katie Schuster, who were all nervous like me before the arrival of President Sarkozy and his wife. They seemed to enjoy it though, and were certainly smiling in the photograph! We spent a few moments with the girls outside, then went inside the Painted Hall for the formal part of the ceremony. President Sarkozy gave his speech which was touching and reflective, he spoke of my many adventures in France, courage and determination. It was one of those strange moments in life when you are listening to something, but cannot accept that those words are meant for you. I felt a little bit like I was in a film set, and I was just an actor playing a part. I never have been very good at letting things sink in. Anyway, I did manage to do the speech, without my kneecaps shaking too much!

I finished with the following lines….

“I have been moved beyond words by the way in which the French people have taken me into their hearts and supported me in all my adventures.”

“Pour finir, un grand merci à la France pour toutes les opportunités et les amitiés qu’elle a su m’offrir.”

That kind of sums it up really…

Ellen

Editor’s Note: A video clip of speeches by President Sarkozy and Ellen will be online shortly.

When I went along to the CIBSE Low Carbon Performance Awards last Wednesday, I was really impressed. Not just because there were 800 people all there in one room to celebrate the amount of energy that had been saved, but that the scheme had been voluntary.

The Awards were about people saving energy over 100 days as part of the CIBSE/E.ON 100 Day Carbon Clean Up Campaign. CIBSE provided information packs to help people understand the simple ways that they could save energy in the workplace.

I really enjoyed being there, the MC and other speaker was the geologist Dr. Iain Stewart and his film and speech were very interesting. I was lucky enough to get to meet him later in the evening and have a chat – some of what he has seen is truly amazing.

It was just a really nice feeling being in a room with so many people who ‘get it’. People who are not just ‘understanding’, but who are ‘doing’. People who are saving energy, and who are, above all, questioning what is going on around them. People who are stopping to think, and making those first steps to do something about it. I had been asked to speak for a few minutes which I did, and you could feel in the room that everyone really cared. As I said in my speech – it was great to see that energy saving could work financially. What was in that room was the proof – and that it was great to see that things had actually been done, and were real savings.

From mineral extractors to hospitals, universities to councils and institutions to individuals, they were all very motivated people. I felt privileged to be among them!

The beginning of everything public for me was the BT/YJA Young Sailor of the Year award in January 1995. It was the first time anyone other than the teachers at school called my name out, and I remember vividly going out to the big city of Derby to find a skirt (of all things!) to wear to the event. Since then I have been to the event most years (other than those when I have been at sea!), and have been lucky enough to win the Yachtsman of the Year on three separate occasions.

This year was the 52nd year and the trophy was (once again!) won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston for his incredible circumnavigation in the Velux 5 Oceans (at the age of 67!). The runners up were so close though that virtually all four of them could have won the award. Geoff Holt, who sailed solo round the British Isles in a small trimaran was one of the runners up. It takes an incredible human being not only to sail around Britain in a small trimaran, but to do so when you are paralysed from the waist down like Geoff. Other runners up were Mike Golding and Dee Caffari who had also recently competed in offshore races. Mike had rescued fellow competitor Alex Thomson, also in the Velux 5 Oceans.

The Young Sailor of the Year was Laurence Greenough, also someone who is inspirational. He continues to sail his unmodified Topper after losing his leg in a boating accident. It was lovely to see everyone again, in fact those faces who have become friends throughout my racing career. Some were faces I had not seen for years, so it was lovely to be able to have a chat about past experiences and previous encounters. I chatted with Mike Richie, who must be 90 years old now, and who has raced numerous times across the Atlantic (the last at 87!). He really is an inspiration to us all, as much now as he was when I first met him in 1996. At lunch, I sat next to Lady Pippa Blake who we were proud to have as ‘godmother’ of Kingfisher before she left New Zealand on her maiden voyage to Europe. It was great to catch up with her and discuss all sorts of topics, including her fantastic artwork, I’ve been to one of Pippa’s exhibitions and she has created some wonderful pieces.

I loved being there, and it was fantastic to spend time amongst friends. I left the Painted Hall in the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich with a light step, and a feeling that it had been really nice to see familiar and friendly faces…..