Lady Commonwealth (Commonwealth Union) _ At just 24, Ellen MacArthur stunned the world by finishing second in the gruelling Vendée Globe solo round-the-world sailing race, making her one of the youngest competitors ever to complete the voyage. Her vessel, Kingfisher, named after her sponsors, Kingfisher plc, carried her to international acclaim. In recognition of this achievement, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to sport.
MacArthur attempted a crewed round-the-world record in 2003, aboard Kingfisher 2, a catamaran that was formerly known as Orange. However, her attempt failed due to the hostile Southern Ocean conditions, causing her mast to break. Nevertheless, MacArthur unveiled a new trimaran, B&Q/Castorama, that had been custom-made to fit her 5-foot-2-inch frame, as well as to attempt breaking solo records.
Later that same year, she narrowly missed breaking the transatlantic solo sailing record by a mere 75 minutes. However, her most defining moment came on 7 February 2005, when she completed a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes, and 33 seconds, setting a new world record for fastest solo sailing around the world. Covering an astonishing 27,354 nautical miles at an average speed of 15.9 knots, MacArthur exceeded the previous record by over a day. For her outstanding achievement, she was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), making her the youngest individual to receive this honour at only 28 years old. She was similarly designated Honorary Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Naval Reserve.
Alongside the celebration of MacArthur’s achievements in the UK, her influence on sailing was also acknowledged by France, which honoured her with the esteemed Legion of Honour in 2008.
However, MacArthur’s legacy quickly changed when she unexpectedly retired from competitive sailing in 2009. Spending over two months alone at sea, with only the limited resources on her boat to survive, she came to see the world as a similarly closed system, finite and fragile. The philosophical insight drove her to retirement and inspired the launch of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2010.
Offering an alternative to the conventional approach of “take, make, dispose,” the foundation currently leads the charge of a circular economy. MacArthur initiated her research on how our economies depend on extracting finite resources, using them briefly, and then discarding them, leading to an unsustainable pattern that generates vast waste and depletes natural systems. Through this foundation, MacArthur implements her idea of establishing a regenerative economy, based on reusing resources, reducing water wastage, and supporting natural systems.
Partnering with various companies, educational organisations, and government officials, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation aims to expand circular solutions. One of its most notable initiatives was launched in 2017 in partnership with the Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit, a $2 million prize fund designed to encourage innovation in the management of plastic waste.
Adding to her commitment to young people, MacArthur had also founded the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust back in 2003. The charity helps young people aged 8 to 24 rebuild confidence through sailing after treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. Her dedication to children continued in 2008 when she joined other celebrities to raise £4 million for the Rainbows hospice, offering comfort and dignity to terminally ill youth.
