Well we are still going, still making our way to Qingdao, slowly and safely, trying our very best not to hurt our little boat anymore.

I have to say, this is the toughest Volvo leg I have ever had to deal with, and it’s been a real test of man and machine. The guys on the Green Dragon have done such an amazing job.

I found myself in a tough place the other day, when we popped the ring frames in the bow and damaged our jibs, only after breaking the forestay and really struggling with pace early on in the leg just to stay in touch.

I was really lost, struggling for motivation, down in the dumps and really just had enough of it all.  We anchored late at night in the Philippines, got some rest and I woke a few hours later to find a few guys in the bow, grinding carbon and cutting up materials to try to fix the ring frame.  I saw Guo (Guo Chuan MCM), making the guys coffee and filming their progress, so I got in there to see what I could do to help.

We got a full production line going; mixing resin, wetting it out, then laying it all up, and got it done just in time so it wasn't too hot for the resin to go off while still working with it.

By the time we were done, I didn't realise we only had a few hours before we planned to set off again and we hadn’t even started on the sail repairs.  Yet again, my team mates on the Green Dragon came to the rescue and we all dug in, to get the sails done so we could rejoin the race. We set out again exactly on time, just after a little Chinese New Year celebration, to which our friends on Delta Lloyd witnessed and were amused by.

I guess after all my blabbing on here, I feel very lucky and proud to be a part of a team with such amazing team spirit and determination.  We are all competitive people on this boat, but we are also all good friends.  When one is down, the rest are there to pick him up again, and that why this team so good to be a part of.

It is also, what I believe, the race is all about, and this leg for all its highs and lows, will stick with me forever, mostly because of the people I am sailing with. And for that I'm lucky and grateful.

Looking forward to seeing and speaking to you all in Qingdao in a few days’ time.

Phil Harmer - Helmsman/Trimmer