Hopefully she had a drink for me

Hopefully she had a drink for me.Sunday 16 February 1,800 miles south of French Polynesia, 06.57 I could tell you how extraordinarily tough it is out here at the moment, how bitterly cold, how the constant physical demands are so extreme that I’m on the edge every moment But just for today it’s not true. I’m having a blinder: consistent tack, wind just aft of the beam, good cruising speed, warm(ish) wind from the north. The downside is that the unusually temperate conditions are the reason why icebergs are breaking off from the Antarctic convergence zone and floating so far north. Anyone who disputes whether global warming is having an effect on the planet should sail the Southern Ocean.

Today I was chatting about this to Brad Van Liew, the skipper of Tommy Hilfiger, but we somehow got sidetracked to Robbie Williams I’ve been listening to Swing When You’re Winning. Brad, in his commercial pilot days, used to fly Robbie around Apparently he’s a dude. Amazing what you learn at sea.Monday 17 February 1,500 miles south of Pitcairn Island, 05.50 The wind is up to 35 knots, the ride’s getting bumpy and uncomfortable, the naps less frequent and the stress more intense I’m still content with my position. Bernard Stamm, the race leader, has just seen a big berg and it’s getting dark I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes tonight. Tuesday 18 February Furious Fifties, 05.25 Pilot problems are making a bad situation worse I phoned the team electrician at 1.30am And again at 3.30am. I’ve got all the spares I need but working out exactly what’s wrong is the problem 11.02 Pilots up and running after rewiring. Time for a nap.Wednesday 19 February Middle of Southern Ocean, 06.50 This is it now, the Southern Ocean everyone imagines Mountainous seas from all directions No gentle swell, just peaks and higher peaks.

The water is so aerated I’m sure the boat is sitting lower in the water than usual. I’ve spent six hours at the helm waiting for a lull that hasn’t arrived. Seeing tonnes of water about to collapse on you is terrifying It’s worse when it happens at night The wind is howling but at least I’m now tucked up inside. Sleepy, tired, cold.Thursday 20 February Southern Ocean, 05.08 The sea has been awful, huge and lumpy. There’s no pattern to it and I lost a lot of miles overnight. Even the white clouds are turning black and bombarding us with hail. And I’ve also got another tear in my mainsail.Friday 21 February Southern Ocean, 05.25 I repaired the main, which was nowhere near as bad as the tear on the last leg It only took an hour and a half.