It's all over, congratulations Challenger 4! They've run a good race, managing to beat Challenger 3. Rum punch and firm land await them. They've earned it! Monday 10 December Festivities Await After a night of squally clouds, heavy downpours and shifty...
Saturday 8th December We are still racing to the finish. 389 NM to go and we are neck and neck with Challenger 3. We continue to have interesting squalls rushing at us from behind: the latest measured 36 knots of true wind. Oh, how superb it is to be in this...
After a squall blows through, Skipper Ricky and Mate Kirstie have their work cut out for them trying to keep Challenger 4 going in a straight line as the squalls blow through and try to take her offline. The crew have to pull together and it's all hands on deck...
Mate Kirstie's Log Once More Unto The Breach Yesterday we had a 20ft-ish whale play alongside us for an hour, broaching several times - once right in front of the boat, as it continuously circled us and surfed waves. The whole crew watched and many...
2nd Night Watch Interlude A good night for shooting stars around Gemini, and whilst no means a meteor shower, included a fizzing ember that lingered for 2 or 3 heartbeats as it streaked the 20 or so degrees from Canis Minor over to Sirius, the Dog Star...
Monday 3 December Today’s main event was the “half-way party” which was the strangest and most wonderful mid-ocean celebration most of us had ever attended. We are celebrating being slightly more than 1,550 nautical miles into this race, with a “short”...
Challenger 4 has started to build up steam in the stronger winds with over 200 nautical miles clocked in a 24 hour period for the first time, and showers are finally allowed. Feeling The Need For Speed Hello from 21° 41' N; 24 ° 21' W We are now in the Tropics. Day 5...
The crew have developed some competitive rivalry aboard Challenger 4 splitting into two watch teams. Ger and Mark P explain the system of watches on board and what it's like to be up on deck, on watch. Eat, Sleep, Sail. Repeat The days are starting to...