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Solitude is key to MacArthur's popularity

MacArthur: Humbled to see so many supporters

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Sailor Ellen MacArthur attributes her popularity to her three months alone in a boat.

Since finishing second in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race last year there has been a frenzy of interest wherever she goes. A quarter of a million people turned out to meet her at the finish line - more than the crowd for the winner Michel Desjoyeaux.

"I think it is incredible just to see so many people there shouting your name and waving," MacArthur told CNN in London.

"Every individual face, a grandmother or grandchild or parents and their two kids, they're all there waving at you and they've all come to see you, it's as simple as that. They're not there simply by chance and that's very, very humbling."

VIDEO Round-the-world sailor Ellen MacArthur tells CNN her theory on why she is so popular. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Her theory about why she is so popular is based on the three months it took for her to sail single-handedly round the world.

"I think that anyone can imagine what it's like to be alone. It's an odd experience, everybody's experienced it at some stage, whether it's for three hours or three weeks.

"It's something that most people experience and regardless of the sailing side, that is something people can connect with."

There was never time for her to dwell on loneliness. She carried out repairs while being battered by giant waves in the Southern Ocean. Several times her boat appeared close to disaster.

"You don't fear for your life in the middle of a storm, you can't really afford to," MacArthur said.

"You concentrate on solving your problems or keeping the boat safe or making sure you take the best route through the storm so you don't get caught in the worst part of it and you just concentrate on coming out the other side,."

The non-stop race was a combination of physical and emotion extremes. Icebergs and fatigue were part of the dangers.

"It's a very emotional experience going back through that footage (of the race), because you go further inside yourself and push yourself harder than you thought possible - maybe further than you should go and coming back from that is a massive learning experience.

MacArthur is a fierce competitor. She was ecstatic after taking the lead in the Vendee, especially as she was younger, and supposedly physically weaker than her counterparts.

"Physical strength is a part of it, but you sail with your mind as well.

"You have to think carefully and clearly about what you do and it is amazing how much energy you can save doing that. I haven't found it a massive disadvantage, but then again I don't know what it is like to be a guy who is bigger and stronger."

MacArthur will be reunited with her boat the Kingfisher for the Route du Rhum, across the Atlantic.