Leg 2 Day 8 : 52°36'00.0"S 63°26'00.0"W

One week in and we know we're approaching the Horn now. The temperature has dropped considerably and the jobs on deck are ten times more difficult. Cold fingers make hanking on a sail painful and thick clothing means just moving around is a bigger drain on energy than normal. In the constantly changing winds we are changing headsails at a rapid pace. As we went on one watch today we changed from a Genoa to hanking on the number one Yankee, to removing it, hoisting the number two, preparing the number three and finally dropping the number two and hoisting the number one in the space of about 40 minutes. The previous watch had been through three different spinnakers before settling with the Genoa. We are about 140 nautical miles from Staten Island where we hope to pass through the Straits de la Maire with the tide and thus keep or better our third place position. Team Stelmar have swapped places with Barclays Adventurer on the horizon and are keeping us on our toes constantly. Naomi introduced her watch yesterday and I will do the same now: Olly Browett - Watch leader and the youngest member of the crew, he has plenty of sailing experience which makes him a natural choice to lead the watch. Helmsman and occasionally on the bow when he's not looking at the numbers. On the Bow John Bass (Bass to avoid confusion when the other John is on deck). I occupy the no 1 position, trim the headsails, scribble these logs and generally look after technical stuff like the e-mail system onboard. Colin Barber (one of the BP Crew) Colin is the number two on the bow occasionally swapping with Holger. He is also our pole monkey; regularly scaling the forestay and perching at the end of the pole for spinnaker peels. At the Helm Holger Bindel - Medic (when you can get an appointment) Helm, main trimmer and is often seen on the bow in the no 2 position. Rob Phillips - Helm and safety officer. Rob has many a story tell we just wish we could understand his broad Northern accent. In the Snake Pit Goldie Raley - Part of a crack two girl team in the 'pit' and in charge of sail repair and maintenance. Laura Alexander - works the pit with Goldie and has clothed the team in everything we need. At the Nav' table Stephen Allberry - Navigator and veritable encyclopaedia of interesting facts. John Bass