It has been bright sun with 15-knot winds today and we spent the morning smoking along at around 10 knots heading ESE. At dawn we had switched down to a jib top reacher with a reef in the main hitting 11 knots regularly with dolphins popping off the leeward corner. There was a baby, only around 4ft long, just barely able to pop its little nose through the water and keep up.

Like those racing in the 1905 race, we have been sure to keep as much sail up as possible, running the large white code zero that sets off a furler on the stem and changing sails constantly. With all clipped into safety gear at all times, the process takes many hands but is safe. "She has a very traditional set-up," said Nordwind crew member Felix Happel, who just finished exams at Babson College a week ago. "It's certainly an all-hands experience... after four hours you're certainly tired."

Last evening we were becalmed for a while at sunset and were able to see the red and yellow sky reflect off a smooth ocean before building throughout the night. Currently both Mariella and Sumurun are around 40 miles to the south and 15 miles back to the west. Navigator Bob Morton, aboard Nordwind, believes we are on track to hook up to southerlies that will bring us east then NE towards England.

By Chris Museler, from the deck of Nordwind, the 84ft 4in (25.7m) Henry Gruber yawl, designed in 1939 and restored last year, see CB199.

Follow the race online at:

www.transatlanticchallenge.org

www.regattanews.com