Leg 3 Day 7 : 35' 18S 154' 24E

I've managed to slip the chains holding me to the shrouds trimming and have sneaked below to write this log. As we get closer to Sydney the pressure to get the most out of the boat increases. David is on an almost 24 hour vigil and only goes to his bunk when he is convinced the on-watch are focused and sailing as fast as they can. I know that any moment he'll appear at the communications table and ask me to go on deck again. I don't mind - it's all exciting stuff. Positions have been trading places throughout this leg but
as time to gain any lost miles diminishes final positions are getting more and more predictable. The last big shake-up occurred today as the most northerly yachts were caught in a wind hole and at one point were actually dragged backwards by the current. We had positioned ourselves further south and while we suffered the same light winds we were able to hold our position.

The really northerly yachts suffered most, former leaders VAIO are now some 30 miles behind. We currently reside in fourth place behind BG SPIRIT, SAIC La Jolla and Me To You. We can see SAIC La Jolla and Me To You and our initial goal is to get in front of them. This will at least put us in joint first overall with BG SPIRIT though as the last leg showed, final approach surprises are not out of the question and until we cross the line, first place is never an impossibility. As night falls, the navigation lights of our foe appear and a light drizzle sends the watch scurrying below for their foulies, our arrival in Sydney starts to creep into our thoughts.

I have a special reason to want to get in tomorrow as it's my birthday and I'd like to spend at least a part of it with a cold beer in my hand. On the nature front tuna would you believe? Chased by a pod of dolphins they leaped from the surface and darted in all directions to escape. Now we know what it must be like for BG SPIRIT, SAIC La Jolla and Me To You.

John Bass