received 16.12.08 0857 GMT
It has been a pretty slow going trip so far. We might as well have left all our moderate to heavy sails on the beach for this leg!
The last 36 hours has been especially painful trying to get around the exclusion zone south of Sri Lanka. The current has been against us for a long time, up to 3.5 knots at times. When you are only doing four knots of boatspeed anyway, it makes for painfully slow progress. We have been trying to work out ETAs and it can be quite scary!
Food has already been rationed as we are expecting to take a few days longer. Spirits are good onboard. We are still having a bit of a laugh when it's appropriate. Ryan has been copping a serious bagging over his little rash situation. There have been many Ericsson 4 laws broken while he struggles with the rash. Nudity down below has featured more than once! Poor little b****r probably just wants us to leave him alone so he can deal with the problem quietly on his own.
It hasn't been too hot yet. The guys are still running their bunkside fans red hot though. It can be very tough when they break down. Diesel and water are getting used up very quickly. The diesel because of all the keel movements in the light air, and the water trying to keep everyone hydrated. You just can't drink enough in these conditions. If you need a drink, it's too late, you're already dehydrated.
Since writing this message, the breeze has built and we are on course again at 10 knots. Thank God for that. It will be interesting to see how long the puff hangs in for this time!
Phil 'Blood' Jameson
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