Terengganu gave a rousing hero's welcome for Dame Ellen MacArthur when the woman reputed to be the world's best
sailor arrived here yesterday from Hong Kong.

The club's welcoming committee then presented her with a batik sarong, which the 29-year-old Briton gladly donned
over her pants.

Befitting her status as an adventurer, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh later presented Dame Ellen with a Seri Kandi
keris that is normally accorded to female warriors of the state and a kelubong songket (songket-woven shawl).

Elated by the warm reception, she told the waiting crowd of more than 800 people, including school children: "The
welcome ceremony here is the best since I left Yokohama on March 25."

Dame Ellen, with a record of being the world's fastest non-stop sailor, is on an Asian voyage to set new "crewed" times
over 10 different legs with 12 record opportunities.

She took exactly seven days to cover the 1,200 nautical miles distance from Hong Kong to here.

Since leaving Yokohama, she has logged 6,800 nautical miles.
(News extract from The Star Newspaper dated 7 May 2006)