3 AM Sunday Morning 27 October 2007, off the Straights of Gibraltar.

Just started my 3 AM watch with James. Routine now this. On with the Voller anorak, they come into their own out here, and then the life jacket and safety harness. Although it is a lot calmer than yesterday, we always wear life jackets and safety harnesses at night.

Stars are bright. We can see Venus and Mars, also Orion stands out well. It’s a brilliant full moon, which is very clear through the binoculars. As the moon is so bright, it is difficult to see some of the other star formations. James has just seen a shooting star.

We’re fishing still, still no luck.

James cooked dinner last night. It was very nice a Bolognese with pasta. Served in bowls not plates, everything would move about to much on a plate. Bowls then wiped clean with bread. Although we have quite a lot of booze on board, left over from the corporate hospitality at St Katherine’s Dock, nobody has touched a drop. It’s unthinkable really, there is just too much to do.

Life on board is vey basic. You spend as little time as possible in the heads as it’s hard to stand up with the boat constantly swaying. Water is preserved as much as possible so you don’t run a tap while brushing your teeth. I try and remember to brush my teeth once in 24 hours. I am still taking the sea sickness tablets every 8 hours.

So far this watch, we have seen nothing. There was one ship on Dave’s watch away in the distance, but apart from a few sea birds that has been all we have seen since leaving Cascais area. The world could have ended.

Emily decided to put the engine on yesterday afternoon as the wind had died so much. The engine has been running now for about 13 hours and we are still only doing about 5 knots. The main sail is up but flaps trying to find the wind.

We have just enjoyed an early breakfast of a cup of coffee, a banana and a chocolate biscuit. I cannot tell you how good chocolate tastes out here. It’s a packet of co-op chocolate biscuits that James brought with him. Fantastic !

After my pride was dented yesterday from feeling queasy after cooking the chicken on Saturday night, James and Dave both admitted to the same affliction yesterday. There is something about the cooking arrangements on board, I don’t know if its the fumes from the gas cooker, associated with standing sideways on the motion of the boat, but you have to sort of cook in small intervals. Whoever cooks it. Doesn’t feel like eating it.

More later - Stephen