Returning to night watched was tough. We were both very tired and the seas were rolly. We’d tied a preventer to the boom to stop it gibing but sleep was difficult with the mainsail snatching and blocks rattling. Our morning call from Cab d’Or was a bright start to the rolly day. I made soup for lunch which we had a job to keep in our ‘dog bowls’ then for dinner had to make the bolognaise in the pressure cooker so if it did fly off the cooker at least it would be sealed.

   Unlike yesterday though we had visitors, although our first was dead! – A fish half way along the deck. Dolphins paid a very brief visit just before sunset, sadly staying only moments. But Simon’s down point of the day was the Swiss boat slowly disappearing in front of us.

   The wind was directly behind our intended course so as we sailed with growing seas and winds through the night with just a reefed genoa we were forced a long way off course. Looking up on my midnight watch on a black night, Brindabella’s tricolour was revolving in the starry sky like a crazy firework.