33' 28S 145' 49E

The winds had been building from 12 midnight and at the end of our watch at 6 o'clock this morning were regularly hitting 22 knots. As the other watch took over and we settled in our bunks we all had an ominous feeling that is was going to get worse before it got better. BP Explorer leaned over and started to ride and crash over the building waves. We have been thrown around in our bunks like rag dolls and with every sudden crash and violent lurch is the constant fear that you may be thrown out of your bunk and onto the floor. On deck it was once again full foulies and a fight to change sails in the growing winds, which are now averaging 30 knots, and gusting to 40 knots. As water boils and cascades over the deck, hands reach out monkey-style grabbing and swinging from each hand hold. Every step has to be made with caution and every movement is made all the more difficult as you trail a lifeline which has to be disconnected and re-connected over every obstacle. Heads are held low as spray fires over the deck but more often than not just when you think it's safe to look up you get a face, eye and mouthful of salty water. The on-watch came down at 12 midday looking totally spent and we didn't begrudge that they had left the number two yankee in the saloon and the number one on deck still to be flaked and bagged. Major was in the galley having had his very own fight during the morning. His valiant attempts to cook lunch had seen him trying to save a meal of pasta, ham and peas from flying from the saucepan. Unfortunately the scars of the battle were spread across the hob, galley walls, floor and Major himself.

After flaking and bagging the sails we have been sailing the afternoon with the number three yankee, the orange storm staysail and three reefs in the main. Those on deck are lashed to the rail with their lifelines made as short as possible to prevent them sliding down the deck with every wave. We take it in turns to sit the furthest forward as this is the person that takes the brunt of the waves. The helms are doing an amazing job and they too are not safe from the occasional wave. You get a feeling when they are going to come and it's not unusual to duck on the rail to see it go over our heads and full in the face of the poor helm.

The hardship is not without reward though, we have regained some lost ground from a 5th place position this morning back up to third and are gaining on Barclays Adventurer and Imagine It. Done. in first and second place. At 2 o' clock we passed Maatsuyker Island, the last land we'll see before South Africa and are taking the great circle route to waypoint Bravo at the Kergoelen Islands. Sometimes it's easy to forget that this is what we paid our money for, a unique once in a lifetime experience, it is that and more but boy is it going to feel good when we get to Cape Town.

John Bass