Date 30 June 2005

Leg6 - Boston to La Rochelle

Location 1,000 miles from La Rochelle

Current Postion Second (behind Team Stelmar

Weather Windy and grey

Heading 085 degrees

With just over 1,000 miles to go to the finish of Leg 6 at La Rochelle we have plotted the positions of the fleet
that are sent to us every six hours and have realised that, at the speed we
are all maintaining, there are only five hours that separate the fleet from
front to back. That is incredibly close racing. We all expected things to be
close but there has been so much jostling for position that changes are
happening all the time and the end result at the finish line in La Rochelle
is by no means a clear cut case.

It has been great sailing for the whole leg with painful, soul
destroying, light airs sailing where we managed to move our 45 tonne tank
against all the odds, and now more recently powering downwind with 30kts of wind blowing
up our tails. Again a 45 tonne tank displacing that much water is very
impressive at some of the speeds we have been reaching.

The weather has not let us down either. We have had freezing cold conditions
with clear skies and bright sunshine and even 20 hours of rain,
constantly with a grey haze hanging over everything. That was great for
giving the decks a quick rinse.

Our four new leggers that have joined us from Boston have slotted into the
team as if they have been here from the beginning of the race. Fully
immersed in all activities onboard and all the watch banter that goes on.

The weekend saw a highlight at the chart table as the paper chart we are
tracking our course on was changed to a more appropriate chart that also
shows the UK and the coast of France. This was met with rye smiles, as we
have not had that picture on any charts since we left Portsmouth back in
October last year. A sure sign that we are getting ever closer to returning
home.

La Rochelle beckons and there is a hint that we may not have the
float-a-thon that we all anticipated would take place into the Bay of Biscay
towards the finish line. Fingers crossed, but we shall say nothing as we
close the finish and just sail 'Imagine it. Done.' as hard as we can to La
Rochelle and enjoy the French hospitality before the sprint back into the
Solent.




Dee Caffari/Yachting World, 30 June 2005