Ellen MacArthur is a British yachtswoman. In 2001, she came second in her first solo round-the-world race. In 2005, she broke the world record by sailing solo around the world in 71 days. Since then, she has become famous and has received many awards. She has dreamt of the sea since she was four years old. She has come close to death but loves the challenge. The sea can be dangerous. Edgar Allan Poe wrote a famous story called "A Descent into the Maelstrom" about a terrifying whirlpool near Norway. A fisherman and his brothers were caught in the whirlpool. The younger brother fell overboard, and the elder brother died. The fisherman survived by tying himself to a barrel.