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Into History.

com. It's January 29th,

it's January 29th, 2005. The 75-foot sailboat slices through the undulating waters of the

North Atlantic Ocean. Prouched on the prowl, one hand gripping the bowline

is a petite elephant woman with short dark hair

and a face etched with steely determination.

28-year-old Ellen MacArthur is 63 days into her attempt to break the world record

for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe. So far, everything's going to plan for the young British sailor.

She's currently on track to beat the previous world record by a day and a half.

But the grueling voyage is taking its toll on Ellen, both physically and mentally.

Her limbs ache, her skin is weather-beaten and wrong, and she's exhausted.

Over the past two months at sea, she hasn't managed more than 20 minutes of uninterrupted sleep.

As Ellen Warily scans the wide expansive ocean in front of her, she spots something out of

the corner of her eye, a long dark shape moving beneath the water right alongside

the keel of her boat.

As she looks closer, Helen realizes with a stab of panic that it's an Atlantic gray whale, a large adult at least 50 feet long.

Ellen's heart pounds as the whales humped back briefly surfaces,

a powerful jet of water erupts from the creature global.

Ellen watches, transfixed with fear and awe as the whale's tail fin emerges from the ocean.

...