Leg 2 Day 26 51 15S 144 28W:

It's Christmas Eve and below it is quiet but for the rumble of the watermaker and the purr of the generator. The off watch lay cosy in their bunks dreaming, perhaps as children, of Christmas mornings past. Bags of fruit, the fevered tearing of paper to reveal eagerly awaited toys and the comfort of being surrounded by the people they love. Above, the wind howls around the hoods of the huddled at the rail as water cascades around their feet. They think about the next hour, or is it two, until the end of their watch and sleep. The Southern Ocean has no public holidays and neither does this race but as Christmasses go this one will be special in so many ways. We will be sharing it with new friends in the crew and one of the World's most demanding environments. In our hearts we will be sharing it with the ones we love at home. To Mum, Stephen, Emily, Oliver and Isabelle, to Alison and my dearest friends whom I love and miss so so much, to all the school children in Royston who have been following my progress and the others who have supported me and the team including Claire, Ruth and the people at BP and Cathy and the staff at UK - I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, Love John Bass x Holger Bindel :- Ich wuensche allen ein Frohes Weihnachtsfest und ein gesundes Neues Jahr. Ein besonders schoenes Fest wuensche ich meiner Familie und meinem Patenkind Noah und seine Familie. Laura Alexander :- Merry Christmas to my family in the UK, Australia and Canada from the Southern Ocean. PS Mum can you save me some of your Xmas pudding please. Love Laura xxx Colin Barber :- Wishing my wife Hazel, Family and Friends in Inverness, Torphins, Milngavie, Strathblane and St Cyrus a fantastic time this Christmas. Looking forward to seeing you all in the New Year. All my Love from the "bottom of the World". Colin xx Stephen Allberry :- Happy Christmas to all friends in Hampshire, Hackney and Sussex. I wish you were here! Goldie Raley :- To my family and friends. Seasons Greetings from the Southern Ocean! Have a Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy 2005. LOADS of love to you all - especially those 'rascals' on the farm. Golds x x x x Rob Phillips:- To Iris, my family and my friends I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Oliver Browett :- To all of my family and friends who have been following my progress; hope you all enjoy a merry Christmas and a happy new year. I will miss the usual festive season celebrations but I'm sure Christmas at the bottom of the world is one to remember. And not forgetting - David Melville Beautiful girl and little boy, I love you. Family and friends all my best times are with you, lots of love to you all. Hello to this year's new borns what a difference you make! All the crew