THE next 48 hours will be critical for Ellen MacArthur has she makes a dramatic last-gasp attempt to win the Vendee Globe race.

MacArthur's world was in tatters on Friday when her yacht, Kingfisher, suffered damage in the Atlantic Ocean - believed to be a semi-submerged container.

The 24-year-old from Cowes had to make emergency repairs through storm-force conditions, but has now battled back and sailing off the west coast of Africa has closed to within 36 miles for leader Michel Desjoyeaux (PRB).

With less than 2,000 miles to the finish in Les Sables d'Olonnes, France, MacArthur knows she has to seize her chance now.

"This next 48 hours is going to be decisive," admitted MacArthur. "It's the last chance for anyone to pass, I think. I've worked to get a bit of separation from Desjoyeaux by sailing a bit closer to the wind and accepting some speed loss, so at least I'm not just following his tracks.

"We'll see whether it makes any difference - this shouldn't be as bad as the Doldrums, but in every unstable wind mass there are always chances to pick up a ride from a friendly cloud."

MacArthur has endured all sorts of conditions during the 88 days of the race, but revealed on Sunday: "I had the weirdest experience yesterday evening - a sand storm!

"Suddenly it was raining sand, the whole deck was brown. It was on the sails, the ropes, everything. Africa feels a long way away, but I guess this came from Morocco."