Leg 2 Day 25 : 52 31S 134 33W

Well in the week before xmas I thought it might be appropriate to hear a word from the skipper on progress to date. Our objectives are to be safe, happy and faster. Safe: John and Naomi have vividly described the conditions in which the crew have been working in. Nearly always cold, damp, arduous and sometimes dangerous. Our stated objective onboard is to ''be free from the unacceptable risk of harm''. We are trying to create an environment onboard where the crew can cross an ocean and not be injured - and have been assisted in this by Paul Everest a Safety Manager with BP. Safety is a daily topic, formally discussed and changes continually made to our working practices. So far, on this our most risky passage, we have had only had two very minor injuries onboard - a bashed thumb and a pulled muscle in the back. You might get worse working in your back garden at the weekend! All of the crew are committed to protecting each other and this might prove to be the most enduring achievement of the trip. Happy: We also discuss the morale onboard the boat on a daily basis. Another stated objective is that nobody should be unhappy during their time onboard the yacht. This is sometimes a challenging objective. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of racing a yacht is that you never have a day off. Three times a day you must climb on deck and face a cold and biting wind that is rarely stable for more than an hour or so. There is an endless round of sail changes that require a high degree of effort and no respite until Wellington. The Southern Ocean is a bleak place with less wildlife than you might imagine - there is a continual greyness that cloaks the ocean and does little to lift the spirits. But onboard the yacht laughter swirls around. The crew sit huddled together sniggering over their misfortunes. Where someone does become down, this is spotted and the story drawn out where possible. At the end of each watch issues must be communicated, resolved and forgotten. Happiness is not left to chance. Each crewmember has an A4 laminate of people and places that they love. What I have noticed is that these are more often on hand than in the sunny Atlantic. People show each other their montages and while the faces are different, the images are the same. Families pressed up around each other smiling at the camera. Friends crowd in holding drinks and smiling mischievously, pets look up loyally. Humans are such social animals, living in such close quarters down here does not seem oppressive, it's almost as if the harsh conditions require it. Particularly at this emotional time of year I have been struck by the genuine warmth and affection that exists between the crewmembers of BP Explorer and their love for their friends and family at home. Faster: We have crossed 4000m of ocean and 50m separates 1st and 9th place. Those of you who don't regularly follow ocean racing might not realise, but this is extremely close and competitive racing. We are lying in second place at the moment, but our closest rival is only 1 mile behind and may well be 1 mile in front by the time this email reaches you. BP Explorer is continually at the forefront of the fleet and this has taken an exceptional amount of effort from the crew. Sail changes are relentless and unless executed at speed lead to small reductions in speed which see you slowly fall back. Everybody onboard must continually battle the wind and waves if we are not to be immediately overhauled by our competitors. In this the crew have been magnificent, their level of motivation and dedication to sailing the yacht is an inspiration. Months ago they arrived from disparate occupations and now labour together towards a single objective - the relentless pursuit of boat speed, where success is measured in a 1% advantage over your rivals. As their skipper I am full of admiration for their energy, bravery, and cheerfulness. So this xmas don't feel sorry for the crew of BP Explorer, they will soon be home to sit around fires and do the rounds of xmas parties. But this year they will experience something truly unique. The close comradeship that comes from working in a team for a worthwhile objective. They will miss the love of their families, but will be supported by the warmth and affection that exists onboard the boat. They will be safe, happy and faster. David Melville