South Altantic - 21 Sept

The last 24 hours have more relaxed for me; good to give my aching muscles some recovery. 

Today I am on mother watch which means cooking for the day for the whole crew of 18. Breakfast usually consists of cereal and freshly baked bread, various for lunch: today baked beans with cheese and ham on toast, dinner tonight will be chicken in white wine sauce (out of cans) and I will make crumble for pud. We also have afternoon cake and tea at 5pm, when the whole crew meets together. Because you are taken out of the usual watch, there is a little free time and I am looking forward to having a shower this afternoon. It also meant that I had a longer sleep over night.

As I write the spinnaker is being hoisted to speed us on our way to Cape Town.

South Atlantic - 20 Sept

The last 36 hours have been a lot calmer. I awoke yesterday morning to the incredibly wet condition in my bunk, due to condensation in the ghetto (nickname for the area of the boat where the crew sleep). My morale was low. However, within a few minutes I was on deck enjoying a beautiful warm day. We have all been able to dry out a lot of our kit and be a little more relaxed. Thankfully the wet in my sleeping bag was condensation and not sea water so it has dried reasonably. This Ocean Sleepwear bag is worth its weight in gold.

Fortunately our injured crew member is making good progress.

Last night we were sailing up wind under clear starry sky and it was bitterly cold. I had almost all of the clothes on that I brought with me, at the same time and was just warm enough, and we rotated every 1/2 hour to keep warm. It caused the crew great amusement when I was back on the helm and all rest of my watch on the bow, and I spotted a light , which looked like a ship. Turned out to be a super nova.

I upped my time on the helm to 3 hours yesterday and with also 3 sail changes my arms and around shoulders are very sore today, along with swollen hands. However worth it , this is just great. I am enjoying myself. I have been on the foredeck in the South Atlantic!!

For the last few days we have had Albatross behind the boat and lots of Shearwaters. Yesterday a young Albatross hit the foresail and bounced into the sea. We are all hoping it survived, but not sure.

South Atlantic 18 Sept

Haven't sent a message for a few days because its been full on extreme sailing over the last few days. Winds mainly in the mid 30s (knots) and squalls up to 49 kts. Lots of squalls. Down wind surfing to start with amazing surf, giving a top speed of around 22kts. We have been upwind in 30 kts since Sat and we are all really wet. Worryingly my sleeping bag is wet. Also very cold. We'll be pleased when the wind drops in the night tonight to give us a breather.

Despite some of us being on the edge of coping at times we continue to have superb banter and lots of laughter. We're also very excited to have moved up the fleet to 4th place.

South Atlantic - 14 Sept

Day5

The last 28 hours have been very busy and the sailing superb, just what I came for. Two nights ago we had very little wind for a few hours and getting this 40 tonne boat moving in 5 knots of wind is really difficult.

However the wind picked up and moved behind us so we had a few hours on a broad reach, then we flew the heavyweight spinnaker for about 12 hours. We spotted some squalls up ahead and so dropped the kite. Thankfully the squalls didn't hit us but dropping the kite at that moment was a great move as we then hit 30 knots of wind. We gather some of the other boats have incurred damage in the night. I have had several spells on the wheel but not while we flew the spinnaker and it has been fantastic: exactly the downwind surfing that I came for. We are currently in waves of about 3 metres.

We continue to eat well and are having loads of fun between the hard work involved in keeping our speed maximised.

South Atlantic - 12 Sept

Its now day 1 aboard good yacht Singapore.I have a great few days in Rio and loved the city.Joined the crew on a day trip around the city and up To the statue of Christ and Sugar Loaf Mountain. I was then well rested and ready to go.

The race start was exciting with boats jockeying for crossing the line and we were first to the windward mark. After a couple of tacks when we a little slow sheeting in the yankey we had lost a little to Gold Coast and New York. Then we were out into the South Atlantic Ocean. The first 48 hours we have had benign weather, which has eased me into to boat life nice and gently. However it will just take me a little while for my body to adjust to the watch rota, so at the moment I'm just a little short of sleep.

The team have done a great job on the victualing and we are eating incredibly well. Every one has been very welcoming to new crew who joined in Rio and we all get on very well. I am on Rotary watch, with young Luke our watch leader. I'm in the Nav team so have been able to have some input into the race strategy and have a view of the grib files.

Today we've have beautiful day, lovely and sunny but we could do with more wind. We are heading south to hopefully pick up the top edge of the southern depressions to shoot us across to Cape Town.

Rio - 8 Sept

Have had a wonderful few days in Rio. I really like this city. Yesterday went on an organised tour to do "Rio in a day". First up to see the statue of Christ, one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It is indeed spectacular. The on to see where Carnival is held: looks like a sports stadium but is long and quite narrow. Then on to the football ground, but that was closed for renovation to get it ready for the 2014 world cup. I have had my picture taken outside. Lastly we visited Sugar Loaf Mountain. That was amazing because it is in a national park, which is in the city but it is rain forest.

Tomorrow I move on to the boat and we set sail for Cape Town on Saturday.

I'm ready for that now.

Rio - 6 Sept

Now been in Rio for two days and really like this city.

There are three ladies together: myself, the wife of a leg 1 sailor and her friend. They have come over to meet Keith in and a have a holiday.

The first day we walked along Copacabana beach and generally relaxed after the journey over. Sat by the hotel pool for a while in the evening. The pool is on the hotel roof and there are great views of the beach from there. One block back from the beach you are in the city.

Eating out has been great. There seems to be a lot of Italian influence in the menus, with lots of pasta dishes, pizza, etc. Yesterday in the city centre we ate a typical eatery for the office workers where you chose you food self service, from a wonderful selection of home cooked mains, salad, fruit, and then they weigh you plate to work out what you pay. The food was excellent and cheap.

The city centre was heaving with people but they friendly and very helpful.

Several times someone just came up to ask us if we needed help. There was mixed advice about whether we should get on a bus or not, so we didn't, but the metro was highly recommended.

Yellow Taxis are everywhere, almost like new York.

Flamenco park was delightful with great views of sugar loaf mountain.

Off to Rio - 3 Sept

Saturday morning, my body clock woke me at the usual time and I found the last minute nerves had subsided. All packed and ready to go, just little panics about whether the big bag was inside the weight allowance, but it turned out to be well within. The boys were home last night so we had family dinner together, some excellent steak from Robertsons (local butcher) to give me a good meal to go off on.

Now I'm at Heathrow waiting for the flight. Decided not to be tempted by the shops, as I can't take any more with my boat weight allowance. Have met up with Rita, Keith's wife and Sheila, a friend of hers, and they are going to be excellent travelling companions. So pleased to have company. Have lots with me to read on the plane including swatting up on my ocean theory. It's all a bit blurred in the mind, since I did  the course in February.

Well, Rio, here we come. Am so excited about being with my team again.