received 14.12.08 0806 GMT
After a good start off the line, it was frustrating to get swallowed up and spat out by the fleet. We seemed way off the pace and for two position reports we were bringing up the rear of the pack. The only good thing was that this gave us the freedom to carry out our plan of staying in close to the shore.
After losing three boats by being too offshore in the last day into Cochin, it was a case of once bitten twice shy for the Dragon. We had no intention of letting anyone inside us and even gybed in at 90 degrees to our course at one stage to be best place to catch the end of the sea breeze and the start of the breeze off the land.
Fortunately, this seems to have been what transpired and Steve Hayles can rest in the knowledge that his first call as navigator has been a good one. It not only took us from last to first, but it is doubly important as we have now sailed into a freshening breeze and although Telefónica Blue has passed us, our lead on the pack has grown dramatically.
This morning we had every boat in the fleet in sight but now we can only see Telefónica Blue in front of us, Ericsson 4 a few miles behind us and Puma a further 6 or so behind them. I think the fleet will compress again at the turning mark but for now, it is nice to be up with the leaders.
The atmosphere is good onboard especially as I think we all know deep down that it will take forever to get to Singapore and Christmas onboard could well be a reality. We have had no problems with the boat apart from the distraction of a stowaway cricket. As Justin (Justin Slattery/IRL) succinctly put it as he was trying to get to sleep: 'it sounds like we're camping'. Fortunately, the noise seems to have gone away since some decent breeze came in - maybe he has taken a swim.
Right now, we have 160 miles to the turning mark off Sri Lanka and we are reaching at 18 knots in 20 knots of wind under full main and jib top. I suspect this is the fastest we will be going at any time on this leg but I hope I am wrong.
Ian Walker - skipper
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