50o05N 3o57W - Nearly home

It's pretty safe to say things aren't really going to plan on BP Explorer at the moment. We have been through a lot together but this last leg has tested us as a team more than any other. It would be easy to be angry, our mistake could be placed on the shoulders of a few, instead we
carry the burden between us and sharing it does make it easier to handle. It also makes us realise just how lucky we have been throughout this race.

Over the past few days we have had a sample of what Team Stelmar went through in leg two, a hint of what Team Save the Children and Pindar may have felt being at the back of the fleet, lonely, while everyone else races ahead and we will may end up feeling Imagine It. Done.'s sense of loss coming into Cape Town as we too watch our position fall back from one that looked much more certain.

It is difficult not to think about what could have been. We were all looking forward to close quarter racing with the whole fleet within shouting distance. Some of the most memorable moments of the race for us have been the close finishes that we seem to have made our trademark. While it would have been a dream to blast in to Portsmouth and win this leg, we had at least hoped to be there for the bulk of the celebrations. Nothing quite describes the feeling of comradeship, as we are welcomed and welcome in our
friends on the other yachts. And of course seeing our family and friends on ribs and supporters boats coming to greet us for the final time amongst all the pomp and ceremony of the finish day has been in our minds from the start.

But it's not over yet. Some careful analysis of the numbers reveals we still have a chance. If Barclays Adventurer, currently in third position on this leg, come in fourth and Spirit of Sark, currently in ninth place, come in tenth and we cross the finishing line less than 17 hours after them we will maintain our second place overall. It gets a bit more complicated after that but third could still be ours thereafter. Add to that the fact that Barclays Adventurer have a protest hanging over them and as we have witnessed so many times in this race - anything can happen.

Whichever way it goes one thing is for certain. We set out from the beginning to be the best team we could. We know we are capable but hope that we have never been arrogant. We know that we have applied everything we have learnt and done it in a safe and happy environment. I believe we have all
done our best and while absolutely nothing should be taken away from every point earned and the teams that will eventually climb the podium and take their trophies, this adventure has been so much more than a race and that lifts our spirits.

It is rare to be involved in something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts and I feel privileged that I have been involved in a truly excellent example. The Global Challenge with its amazing family of crew volunteers, skippers, leggers and Challenge staff make every stopover some of the best times I've had in my life. The wonderful feeling you get when you know that your friends and family are watching and supporting you every mile and living the adventure with you. And, of course this fantastic BP Explorer team, and its supporters, that have sailed around the world. When we met for the first time back at the start of 2004 none of us could have ever hoped to have shared so much.

We can see the English coastline - we are nearly home. I am desperate to get in but at the same time, deep down, have a feeling of not wanting it to end. Bear with us on the quayside everyone, when we do get there we are going to be very happy to see you and the tears won't be ones of sadness but ones of joy.