40' 50S 174' 21E

The land of the long white cloud has all but slipped over the glittering horizon in our wake, the purple-blue hilltops layering away into a quickening sunset along the inky-green tree-line where South Island's magical coastline meets the cobalt sea.

The day has been perfect for a race start, the breeze obliging and the conditions perfect for the flotilla of
spectators who wished everyone on their way. It was certainly a far cry from the storm whose jaws we had to navigate to make it in just a month ago.

New Zealand seemed reluctant to yield up her beauties and now we know why - there is nowhere like it on earth; a perfect escape and a wonderful adventure playground after the rigours of leg 2. We all hope to return too.

Last night, we were treated to an unforgettable display of pyrotechnics choreographed for Chinese New Year which seem to have infected the crews with some impressive passion and enthusiasm for the start of the leg. Just a few minutes separated us as we jostled over the line, bang in front of the crowds thronging Wellington's shore and with the slicing hum of helicopters overhead. For BP Explorer - winners of Leg 3 in the last Global Challenge - we were keen to do well right from the line!

It was not to be. Approaching the line slightly early, we were forced to slow the boat down dramatically to avoid being over and incurring a time penalty. Annoyingly the boat was almost stopped in the water as a result and our competitors flew past us. The drama continued with our approach to the windward mark on starboard tack, which saw us making up a good few places before we were paid a visit by Barclays Adventurer. Clearly keen to take a good look into our cockpit, they came hooning at us on port tack, and we narrowly escaped collision with them by turning BP Explorer hard to port to swing our back end out of line with Barclays Adventurer's fast-approaching bow.

Images of the collision which dominated the leg 3 start in the Global 2000-2001 certainly came to mind! It was too narrow a miss and we protested Barclays Adventurer immediately. Shaken but not stirred, we then made a somewhat ragged crossing of the Cook Strait and finally the cobwebs began to disperse.

As night approaches we have begun to work our way back up to a more respectable position and as we head for bed with a belly full of that old favourite, Thai Chicken Curry, we currently lie in the middle of the pack. We are coming back!