RECORD-BREAKING sailor Ellen MacArthur was today celebrating after winning a top award for her efforts.

The 25-year-old from Cowes was named as the International sailing Federation female World Sailor of the Year.

She made history in February when she finished second in the round-the-world Vendee Globe race in her yacht Kingfisher.

Despite being pipped to first spot by Frenchman Michel Desjoyeaux, she became the fastest woman and youngest person ever to circumnavigate the earth in a single-handed race.

MacArthur, who originally hails from Derbyshire, was unable to attend last night's awards ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal, as she is currently racing in the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre from France to Brazil.

Paul Brotherton, who has coached Ellen in asymmetric dinghy sailing, collected the trophy on her behalf.

Before setting off for Brazil, she said: "I am always surprised to be nominated for awards like these.

"But I hope that any recognition of this kind is simply recognising that anyone can achieve their goals if they work at it.

"Equally a nomination of me for an award is a nomination for my team, sponsors and supporters over the years - whilst I may race often on my own, it is a great team effort to get to the starting line ready to compete."

Her achievement in the Vendee Globe race, where she spent 94 days alone at sea and sailed 25,780 nautical miles, made her a sailing legend.

She has since won two other races as part of a yachting team, including co-skippering Kingfisher to win the five-leg EDS Atlantic Challenge in the summer.

The male World Sailor of the Year award went to Brazilian Robert Scheidt, who has dominated Laser Class sailing over the past decade.

ISAF President Paul Henderson said: "Ellen and Robert demonstrate how diverse our sport is, with each representing opposite ends of the sailing spectrum.

"They have achieved at the highest level and are both great sailors."