Intrepid sailor MacArthur returns home

MacArthur leaning from the bowsprit of Kingfisher

SOLENT, England (CNN) -- Record-breaking round-the-world solo yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur has trailed her trademark red flares as she arrived home in front of thousands of fans.

The 24-year-old, who became the fastest woman and youngest sailor to complete a non-stop circulation of the globe in the Vendee race last week, docked in Southampton on Thursday.

Her 20-metre (60-foot) Kingfisher yacht -- which had sped her to the second fastest time ever -- was accompanied by a flotilla of about 25 vessels as she glided at about five knots up the Solent.

MacArthur had spent 94 days at sea tackling the icy Southern Ocean, the treacherous Cape Horn and the expanse of the Atlantic, sleeping in bursts of 15 minutes at a time.

GALLERY Pictures from the yacht race     ALSO Sailor Ellen MacArthur making waves Key dates in MacArthur's race Quotes from Ellen MacArthur

Speedboats crammed with photographers and camera crews jostled for position in a bid to catch a glimpse and a picture of MacArthur, who captured second place in the Vendee Globe Race on Sunday night, a day behind Frenchman Michel Desjoyeaux .

She posed for pictures and at one point even hung off the bowsprit with her feet dangling in the water.

Spectators crowded along the waterside to watch Kingfisher Challenge sweep past them.

A starting gun was fired twice at nearby Yarmouth to welcome MacArthur.

MacArthur told a press conference after her arrival in Southampton that she was "missing her dog."

"I have walked on grass which was quite nice -- something that I have not done for a while," she said.

She added that she was also looking forward to seeing people "though I do not miss them that much when out there -- I feel at home."

Tens of thousands had greeted her in the French port of Les Sables d'Olonne at the end of the Vendee race, arguably the world's toughest.

MacArthur, who used to save her school dinner money towards paying for her first yacht, plans to next race as part of a crew in the Atlantic Challenge in the summer.

Record yachtswoman ready to sail again
February 12, 2001
Yachtswoman sails to solo record
February 12, 2001
Frenchman sails to victory
February 11, 2001

Vendee Globe Challenge
Kingfisher Challenge
Atlantic Challenge Cup

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.