Leg 2 Day 13 : 59' 07S 81' 10W

Our fortunes have been somewhat mixed over the last few hours it has to be said. There is water water everywhere and not a lot to drink. Well, for the time being - and after hours and hours of struggle from Cop and David wielding manuals and tools - we HAVE just managed to fill all our tanks, but are facing a situation with the water-maker which is far from ideal. And, if it worsens of course, our position could be in jeopardy if forced to divert to pick up water from a passing ship. Due to plankton and algae blocking up the filters, and a weak pump, we have not been able to make much water. This problem is all compounded when it's rough, punching through the waves to windward; the water-maker is far fonder of calm seas for doing its job. The net result is that we are brushing our teeth in sea water, unable to wash and monitoring every drop. 'Fresh water to be used only for drinking and cooking - NOTHING ELSE, signed The Management' reads the notice in the companionway. [Editor's Note: they have got 1700 litres onboard in tanks, including 2 that are sealed that they can open if it breaks down completely, which is designed to be enough to get them to the end of the leg] Not that many of us would be hardy enough to strip off for a shower anyway - we have come all this way to 59 south without any heating below decks whatsoever! Yesterday, I woke up sensing that perhaps three sets of thermals, four socks and a hat was overdoing it a little for bed, and it was explained that the heaters had finally been cajoled into action. For 12 hours, a comforting, steamy fug of baking and tea-making greeted us when we come down off watch into the saloon and headed for our cosy sleeping pits. It might have been at this point that we suddenly realised that the boat does in fact smell, but it was nice to be warm. Now, however, the heaters have broken down again. When our watch headed for our respective pits just four hours ago, the position reports had been promising, whilst the weather looked worrying. We were lying in a very strong third position with a good lead over those behind us but had, along with the rest of the fleet, sailed into an area of wind sheer sandwiched between low-pressure systems to both north and south. This has considerably shaken up the pecking order and we now lie in a tenuous fourth - which could well worsen by the time that the wonderful dawn that is now breaking has turned to day. VAIO and Me to You have overtaken us and for the time being that must be our goal, to hunt them down and re-claim a place in the top three. Naomi Cudmore