39o50S 35o14E

It's dragging on a bit now! Four and a half weeks at sea is long enough in my book and I think everyone is looking forward to getting in. The hot chocolate has run out as has the mayonnaise, the peanut butter and most of the treats - all those things that brought a little ray of sunshine into a cold damp yacht. When you first set out it would be self destructive to think of the end, or the last days, of the leg. But, as we enter the last five days or so you can't help it. When you have five days to go a change in the weather (meaning lighter winds) can effectively double the estimated time of arrival so there is a much more instant reaction to such information. The arrival of the position reports also has a more significant effect as we realise there is less and less time to make miles. Position wise, we'd be happy for the race to end now. We would have third place, a good position after so much heavy weather sailing, and we'd be in the lead overall with two points separating us and Spirit of Sark in second place in the leg and overall. BG SPIRIT are well back in the fleet and so would loose their overall first position and the three point lead they currently enjoy. But, as we witnessed, and benefited from, in leg two, anything can happen, regardless of how safe you think your position is. If Spirit of Sark passes Imagine It. Done. and we don't, only one point will separate us overall and that's providing Pindar and Team Stelmar don't get past us. These are the things that up the stress levels in the last few days. The weather is looking ok and has, so far, followed forecasts. Last night we had about 15 knots with heavy squalls topping out at 40 knots. We watch for these on the radar and they show up as bright yellow areas on the screen. The squalls are large rain clouds, often in the middle of an area of clear skies that are dumping their cargo of rain. The rapid cooling of the air causes strong winds down and out from all sides of the clouds. Science aside it means you are happily sailing along with sails nicely trimmed and the on-the-rail conversation centring around the delights waiting for you in Cape Town. Suddenly, the wind changes, builds, builds and builds some more. We hold on tight and prepare to drop sails as rain blasts across the deck. Then it all goes quiet as we sit directly under the cloud. Then just when you think it's over the wind builds again, this time in the opposite direction, and you are blasted out the other side. The thought of first place is a tantalising possibility and we are giving 100% into getting the most out of BP Explorer. We are due for a win and it would be so sweet to get it on this, the most difficult leg. It will soon be over and we'd know for sure we'd done everything we could if our first beer was holding the leg winners trophy.

The email system has worked out it's bugs and is once again delivering messages from our friends and family again (I should add including several from my brother, thanks bro). John Stewart would just like me to point out that he is washing with baby wipes just not showering.

John Bass