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Dame Ellen welcomed home in style

image of TrimaranRecord-breaking yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur was welcomed by large crowds - including many school children - upon her return to Cowes on Friday afternoon.

Dame Ellen sailed her famous trimaran B&Q from the Solent into Cowes, enabling the public to see the trimaran as it passed the Green at West Cowes. Dame Ellen was brought ashore to join the welcome reception party on the bandstand where she was presented with the Freedom of the Island by the Chairman of the Council, Councillor Peggy Jarman. Councillor Jarman noted that Dame Ellen was only the second person to have been granted the freedom of the Island - an honour which entitled her to drive her sheep along Newport High Street - the first being the Oscar winning film director Anthony Minghella.

Dame Ellen described the decision to grant her the freedom of the Island as a great honour and her welcome in Cowes as "absolutely fantastic". She accepted the honour on behalf of her entire team which had worked tirelessly to ensure the success of her record breaking attempt.

Dame Ellen also said that she was considering mounting a challenge to the trans-Atlantic record.

After this, Dame Ellen took time to meet well-wishers on the Parade before moving on to her team's East Cowes base where a reception was held at Venture Quays in her honour.

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TeamEllen.comIwight.com sailing pagesShirley RobertsonThe WhooperCowes profileEast Cowes profile