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Latitude: 15 33.82’ S
Longitude: 32 57.32’ W
Position: Second
Average speed: 11.7 knots

The past few days have been perfect sun-tanning weather; hot, sunny and light winds. Our progress has been slow albeit in the right direction. However, the further north we sail, the stronger the winds will become. Overnight we picked up some good speed that, hopefully, means we are leaving light winds behind. Each morning we are greeted by a host of big black squally clouds that deliver plenty of wind and a good dousing of rain. The light winds follow but that is normal for this part of the Atlantic.

Our second repair on the rudder is holding up well and we’ve been lucky that each time it’s been damaged we've been in a position to repair it without stopping completely. If we have to fix it again, it will be very expensive in terms of miles lost to the leader. It is pretty difficult to forget about as we can hear and feel it throughout the boat, vibrating like a pneumatic drill!

Our recent losses to the leader have been extensive and painful. Hopefully, as Paprec Virbac reaches the Doldrums, we should pull some miles back. Despite the tricky winds, Capey [Andrew Cape, Thomson's co-skipper] and I have managed to get some good sleep; something that is becoming increasingly difficult with the inside of the boat resembling a furnace. But hey, better than having to wear a woolly hat and oilskins!

Less than 1000Nm to the Equator now and then we are in the right hemisphere. It really feels like we are coming home…