SOME surprises are in store when Ellen MacArthur unveils her five-year plan at the London Boat Show in January, as well as the identity of the sponsor who has agreed to back her.

It's been confirmed her three-year sponsorship deal with retailing giant Kingfisher, which was driven by sailing mad chairman Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy, has come to an end.

But MacArthur and the company she runs with business partner Mark Turner in Cowes are to announce a brand new sponsorship deal, the details of which have so far been kept firmly under wraps.

MacArthur won't have found it difficult to replace Kingfisher.

In the Vendee Globe alone, she attracted massive global publicity which, when calculated on an advertising basis, was worth an amazing £46.7 million.

Her sailing plans are also the subject of widespread discussion after she branched out successfully into multihull racing in the last Transat Jacques Vabre.

Despite a lack of experience in trimaran racing and in the face of fierce competition, MacArthur and Alain Gaultier came second, having sailed a superb race across the Atlantic.

Rumours that she has secretly been building an Open 60 trimaran for the Route de Rhum next year were scotched by Turner recently - but an invited audience at her London press conference will be waiting with bated breath to see what this unique woman plans to do next.