"This bit of the ocean is to all appearances as close to a desert as I would ever have thought it was possible to get. I don't think I have ever sailed so far or for so long with the same sails up. The days are the same; the sunrises and sunsets are seemingly instant - they and very brightly coloured but only ever for a very few minutes; the afternoon squall clouds disappear after sundown to be replaced with the most staggering display from the stars which stretch uninterrupted from a finger above the horizon in all directions, the Milky Way visible clearly and the occasional shooting star topping off a spectacle that you can enjoy for hours whilst sitting in the cockpit in the warm, steady night time breeze, even in the early hours. When the sun comes up the heat is switched back on instantly and it becomes an oven on deck and a sweatbox downstairs, making it difficult to eat or sleep. Then, after lunch the squalls develop and keep you occupied until dark - and so passes each day.

There is, I expect, a lot going on that I don't see - sometimes the water boils as something or things that eat flying fish coral them near the surface and create a mass flypast. It is interesting to watch a large number all fly at once, some fly until they are almost out of sight, perhaps quarter of a mile, and others not so far. I thought to start with that natural selection must favour those that fly furthest, but then if you think about it they are a long way away from what was chasing them that is true, but they plop back into the water and .......no mates! They are alone, which must be a bit disconcerting for a creature who's best chance is in a school. That would make an interesting study to occupy a lifetime for some bearded biologist, are long, short or average distance fliers most favoured by natural selection?

Talking of beards, I got rid of mine again yesterday, and in doing so looked in the mirror which is an unusual event for me either here or at home - I look like a real muppet as I am badly in need of a haircut! .It is curling behind my ears like some bad 1980's footballer and the top blows in my eyes too, something it hasn't been long enough to do for over ten years, but I am forbidden by Kim from doing another DIY haircut after the last one, or I would get rid of the lot - it is pretty hot under here, but not through brain activity! I am under strict instructions to wear a hat upon my arrival!"

Steve White (Toe in the Water) in his daily message

Well, now there is less than a week to go to the finish, and I am starting
to get excited.... but there are a lot of things I will miss:

Things I will miss:
- sunsets and sunrises
- peace and quiet (no mobile phone)
- private "i-pod karaoke" moments
- being able to eat chocolate whenever I want
- the vacation radio
- the dolphins
- not having to brush my hair every day
- the stars and the moon

Things I won't miss!
- the "bucket"
- bailing out bilges
- stacking

Things I'm looking forward to:
- my "cheri"
- my cats!
- fresh fruit
- a cold beer
- a hot shower
- drinking tea out of a real mug (with a handle)

“Windy conditions on Bahrain Team Pindar as I make my way towards the Azores High, which is now just 400 miles ahead of me. Yesterday followed a familiar pattern of light winds during the day, less than 20 knots, and by the evening massive squalls arriving, increasing the wind to over 30 knots, where it continued all night, even once the skies had cleared. Maximum wind was 40 knots. I actually sustained a metre long tear to my mainsail as I was reefing to 3rd reef in the evening squalls, and I will repair that once the spray stops flying across the deck, and before I go back to 2nd reef. All the equipment is getting tired after this marathon event, and everyone’s sails are not as strong as they were at the start after the endless movement and the sun damage. Fortunately the keel hydraulics are hanging in there, despite the bouncy conditions. Interesting racing tactics for the 4 boats going for 3rd place, as Sam has started beating around the east side of the high whilst Marc is going well north to go downwind around the west side, two very different options. Fortunately for me, the High will move south so that I will not have to go so far around it on the West side. Dee is coming up very fast as she needs to get through the high pressure and away to the east before the high moves north again. She is going quicker than all of us, but I have to wait for calmer conditions to cant my keel further and get some more power. It is the slamming that really loads up the keel system, so either flatter water or downwind conditions are going to be suit me better now. I just need to be patient for another 24 hours and nurse the boat through these rough conditions. It’s not easy at all seeing Dee coming up and not being able to put the foot down to match her, but I have to keep thinking of the big picture – finish, finish, finish!”
Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) in his daily message
 

Latest ETA for Brit Air is between 0700hrs and midday GMT Saturday, 0800hrs and 1300hrs local time.

“The moon is getting bigger and bigger each night. This evening I was lucky enough to have the view of the sunset through the port window, as the moon shone through the starboard one! The moon is a sailors friend, it makes so much difference to have some moonlight at night, even if it is behind the clouds. Tonight there are no clouds and the moon is lighting up the sea, making it shine an oily copper colour. I am doubly grateful for the moon as I "lost" (ask the Imp) my last head torch last night and forgot to look for it in the daylight today, so manoeuvring in the dark is made easier by the moonlight. The other option is either holding a little torch in my mouth (not very safe) or making a makeshift headtorch with elastic, duck tape and the little torch! It is amazing how little light I need now, having lived for three months with no light except a torch and the moon. I have only just changed the batteries in my torch after nearly three months! There is so much you can do by feel, and your eyes quickly adapt to see well in minimum light. It is hard to compare this lifestyle with that I lead at home! However, I must admit to having put my boots on the wrong feet more than once, wearing things inside out and also occasional food disasters / surprises when eating in the dark!”
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

“After getting hammered again last night, with 35-40 knot headwinds, storm jib and 3 reefs in the mainsail, crashing along, very bad for the boat, finally today, we had wind. Not too much, not too little, in a good direction, so that we could make a good direction and go straight for a waypoint off Rio de Janeiro. Solent and one reef in the main, and making about 13 knots average. Easy on the boat, fairly easy on skipper. Walter Greene, the great designer, builder, racer of multihulls, said to me once, "make the easy miles Richie, there will be plenty of hard miles, so make the easy miles", meaning, when you can go, go, for as long as you can, as hard as you can. Seems forever since we had some easy miles. We needed this. Here's hoping it will last for a day or so more as forecast.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message