received 18.12.08 0800 GMT
Hi there!
I would seem that this has been another unbelievably busy leg. Over the course of the last 24 hours, despite the number of sail changes having somewhat reduced, there has been plenty to keep us busy.
From our position out on the right-hand side of the course, we have been steadily working our way back into contact with the fleet, trying to take advantage of every windshift possible. This has meant working hard to weave our way around the many clouds that stand in our path and attempt to force us in the wrong direction. As a result, a lack of sleep and plenty of tacking has been the order of the day up until early this morning, when we were finally able to settle down on a relatively steady course. However, this does not look like it is set to last as the radar is becoming increasingly busy with storm clouds, which will force us into action once again.
Things are going well however. We had some nervous moments yesterday morning as we watched the fleet from far away in our right hand corner. We have successfully managed to work our way back into the game and got the shift we were looking for. The shift came for us not a moment too soon. Just as we were starting to discuss the contingency plan and what we would do if the shift never came, a line appeared on the water that signalled the arrival of the new pressure and with it an expression of relief on all of our faces! Now it is a case of hanging on in there for the last few hundred miles into the entrance to the straits of Malacca in order to try to consolidate a decent position.
Currently it is a pretty bumpy ride, pounding upwind in 20 knots of wind against a sometimes very nasty seaway that is making the boat rattle and crash as we launch through the waves. This makes life downstairs pretty uncomfy and typing not that easy either! Luckily, I have managed to find a relatively flat spot in order to write these few words! Crashing upwind is something we are all going to have to get used to though as there will be many miles on the next leg just like this as we make our way to China... This leg has been described as the beat from hell but I think that perhaps we are just warming up!
Cheers, for now,
Simon Fisher - navigator
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