16:43.946N 028:08.588N Thursday started uneventful with the crew well rested after we introduced a new watch rota. One and half hours on, 6 hours off.  We could see lots of other rally boats which we wanted to pass. Bad move!  We launched our big genniker (cruising chute) which gave us another knot or so but by mid morning it all stated to come apart.  So it was all on deck to try to rescue this expensive sail before it hit the water.  With 5 on board we did eventually get it under control but the urge to keep it up was too much. So we put extra lines on it and trussed it up like a chicken. No way would it part with the boat again.  We were storming on getting up to 9 knots and catching up with the faster boats.  However by mid afternoon it all came apart again. Some of the lines got badly frayed the bowsprit lost it fittings and again the sail nearly went ALWAL.  It’s down now but we are furiously trying to repair the bowsprit fitting as tomorrow is another day.  On the first part of the rally we came 4th in our class and 13th overall, so we’re hoping to top that this leg.