I thought she came to fame by just finishing in one of those many solo round the world races... That got her all the pub etc etc and she then had the cash and name recognition to do the round the world passage in a custom boat. "She did not win it" per say.
Right. Ellen McArthur never won anything. per say. Let me refresh your memory:
2000, Plymouth to Newport in 14 days, 23 hours, 11 minutes. This is the current record for a single-handed monohull east-to-west passage, and also the record for a single-handed woman in any vessel.
Vendée Globe 2000, second. With a time of 94 days, 4 hours and 25 minutes, still the world record for a single-handed, non-stop, monohull circumnavigation by a woman.
2004 Ambrose Light, Lower New York Bay to Lizard Point, Cornwall in 7 days, 3 hours, 50 minutes. This set a new world record for a transatlantic crossing by women, beating the previous crewed record as well as the singlehanded version.
In 2005, Jules verne record. Single-handed non-stop circumnavigation. 27,354 nautical miles (50,660 km) at an average speed of 15.9 knots. Her time of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes 33 seconds beat Joyon's then world record time by 1 day, 8 hours, 35 minutes and 49 seconds. Record recaptured by Joyon in 2007.
And the most important record: She hold top spot on the Top Gear track in a Susuki Liana. Beat that!
Full CV there:
http://www.btteamellen.com/ellen/feature-articles.asp?sid=20477
