A short update from the fine Lady Telefónica Blue.   As I write we have only six knots of breeze, and for sure will have another loss in the next sched against the two boats behind us.

All the guys are awake and the real ‘Channel’ fever has arrived. This word comes from the old Whitbread races, where the finish was in England.  By the end of the race, all the crews involved started to get itchy and nervous in the last 1000 miles towards the finish.   Have to watch out that they keep concentrating and not start focusing on packing their bags. Shouldn't be a problem, but have seen stranger things happen.

The pressure will be on. The good news is that the closer we are getting to the finish, the relative faster the other two boats behind us have to go to make gains.  We still have nice margin, at the next sched.  As long the wind doesn't drop completely, we should be fine, but I feel far from comfortable. 

Even if it should go wrong, the guys should all feel like the moral winners of the leg, they sailed like champions.  But let's be positive, I am sure we are going to pull it off, we have the best crew and a great boat..................and then for sure we will all love the leg to Qingdao for the rest of our lives!!!

Bouwe Bekking - Skipper