ELLEN MacArthur is on the verge of becoming the fastest woman to sail non-stop around the world after dramatically taking the lead in the gruelling Vendee Globe race.

The 24-year-old from Cowes briefly nudged ahead of French rival Michel Desjoyeaux on day 82 of the race, as the two sailors battled it out for the merest drop of wind just north of the Equator in the Atlantic.

MacArthur has spent the last two days battling through the Doldrums, the meeting point for the northern and southern hemispheres.

The area is feared by sailors for its notoriously unpredictable weather and often leaves boats stranded in long lulls.

However, MacArthur's lead was short-lived, as by late yesterday the Frenchman's PRB vessel had eroded her five-mile advantage and the father-of-three, nicknamed The Professor, had managed to forge ahead by six miles.

There are just 3,000 miles left to sail of the 24,000-mile race, which finishes in the French Biscay port of Les Sables d'Olonne.

Speaking to the Daily Echo from her 60ft yacht Kingfisher, MacArthur said: "At first I didn't get too excited, though I did smile when I heard I was in front. I'm so tired that was all I could manage.

"Yesterday morning Mich was still to my north and had made good ground to my west, something I was not able to do in the wind that I had.

"I was not surprised to see Mich get away but I am hoping I will touch some wind soon and be able to challenge him again.

"It will be a long time before we get out of the Doldrums at this rate - I am meant to be back in two weeks' time but at this rate, it will be two months. There is just so little wind."

MacArthur had trailed Desjoyeaux by 600 miles when the Frenchman rounded Cape Horn, but the Derbyshire-born sailor has slowly clawed back the lead.

Catherine Chabaud was the first woman to race non-stop around the world in the last Vendee Globe in 1996/97 taking 140 days, and the young Briton is well on course to smash that record.

A household name in France already, MacArthur is likely to be given a hero's welcome when she arrives there next month. "The interest in Ellen has been amazing," admitted Vendee press spokesman, Mary Ambler.

"Not only among the French press, but worldwide. We've even had calls from journalists in Israel who want to be there when Ellen arrives in Les Sables."