VOR - PUMA Leg One Day 15 QFB: 0214 GMT

from Ken Read (skipper)

Three's company out here in the Atlantic. We have been accused of making this a match race so far because we have been in very close contact with E4 for just about all of the race. So today we lost E4 off to leeward and on comes Telefónica Black to take their spot in the rotation. They were quick jib reaching so we got another chance to go to school on our trim and learned a ton. Finally the breeze came aft and we got to put up some big gear and put them back on the horizon behind us pretty quick. Very nice feeling aboard "the monster" to find a nice angle that we like with a sail combination that we knew we liked and see it all work in short order.

So, a rest for the stressed you may think? No boats in sight for a while and we get to relax and enjoy one of the most beautiful nights I can ever remember? Forget it! As soon as we found a combination that put some distance on Black, all of a sudden E4 appears right in front of us about 3 miles away! Good news is we are slowly gaining on the two boats ahead. Bad news is the stress metre remains high. Actually on reflection I wouldn't call it stress at all. Just the competitive juices flowing at fairly high levels. All part of the sport I guess.

The horrid heat is slowly backing off and life down below is becoming a bit more tolerable. Doesn't mean it smells any better, just a bit more tolerable. We have one luxury on this yacht. One fan per person in each bunk. And you protect the health and well being of that fan as if it was your child. During the hottest days the fan was the only reprieve and made sleeping almost manageable. Remember, we have a black boat with a red cockpit floor. Pretty much a heat absorber on a good day (thanks Antonio).

Mix in light winds creating almost no circulation below, 11 stinky guys (a couple with terminal gas problems) and some bad freeze dried food--and you have the makings of a living condition that would be condemned in most states in the US. Check that- all states.

Besides that, life couldn't be any better. 11 boys getting along and pushing quite hard. Having company around us all the time tends to do that.

Kenny

Volvo Ocean Race