Born in 1976 in Whatstandwell, Ellen MacArthur became known in 1997 when she entered the Mini-Transat, the only woman and youngest competitor. In 1998 she was named sailor of the year by the Royal Yachting Association.
She finished second in the 2000-2001 Vendée Globe aboard Kingfisher at age 24, then won the 2002 Route du Rhum in the IMOCA class. In 2001 she won the EDS Atlantic Challenge and was second in the Transat Jacques-Vabre in the ORMA class.
In February 2005, aboard the trimaran B&Q/Castorama, she broke the solo round-the-world record in 71 days 14 h 18 min 33 s. She was made Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 and Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 2008.
She ended her racing career in 2010 and founded the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, devoted to the circular economy. She received the Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation in 2022.
