THE year 2000 marked the start of the new Millennium, but 2001 may well become known as Ellenium year.

It was the year when ordinary folk the world over came to hear about an extraordinary woman who was just 5ft 3in, aged 24, and lived on the Isle of Wight.

Her name was Ellen MacArthur and as she sailed into Les Sables d'Olonnes on February 11 at 19.36 GMT, greeted by red flares, fireworks and thousands of well-wishers.

Few can have realised how finishing second in the Vendee Globe 2001 would change her life.

Her triumph was broadcast to far-flung corners of the globe. Even in landlocked countries where sailing is non-existent, people's attentions were drawn to the television screen to observe pictures of the tiny Englishwoman finishing her amazing 24,000 mile solo voyage, having displayed remarkable courage and fortitude.

From that point on, 2001 belonged to Ellen.

Even when the year ended in tragedy with the death of Sir Peter Blake, shot dead by pirates in Brazil, it was Ellen who was first asked to pay tribute, since it was Lady Pippa, the wife of the Kiwi yachtsman and explorer, who named Ellen's beloved Open 60 Kingfisher in Auckland in 2000.

The name Peter Harrison also loomed large at the start of 2001.

The multi-millionaire businessman chose the London Boat Show in January to announce that Britain would be competing in the America's Cup 2002/2003 for the first time in 15 years.

It would be done with his money initially, made from the sale of his networks company Chernikeeff, but a fund-raising drive would be launched to help with the costs which would be in excess of £20m.

Those who did not grasp how important Harrison's announcement was at the time, only had to wait until August to the much anticipated America's Cup Jubilee, which had been planned for seven years to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first ever America's Cup competition in the Solent.

In distinguished company of around 250 incredible boats, including more than 30 12-metre yachts which arrived from New York on a submersible ship and the three glamorous J-class yachts Endeavour, Velsheda and Shamrock V, Harrison fielded two IACC yachts. He showed how much progress his dedicated team had made in such a short period.

Without his involvement, the Jubilee would have still been a stunning display of yachts and yachting through the ages. But the success of the GBR Challenge gave all British sailing enthusiasts a chance to look ahead excitedly to October 2002 when the first rounds of the America's Cup 2003 kick-off in Auckland.