Race 1 - Day 28
Crew Diary - Race 1 Day 28: Liverpool to Punta del Este
17 September

Hello again to all the Qingdao followers out there. This is Kevin Turner (Leg 1) and I've been allowed back on the blog machine again.

Well there certainly is a mood of change onboard today and it's all good. For the past several days we have been sailing into relatively strong winds and life onboard has been challening to say the least. The crew have been coping very well with the ridiculous angle of heel and the odd shudder as the hull hits a rogue wave but it has been very wearing. Today the wind has shifted enough for us to raise the Code 3 (big white thing that looks like a massive kite). This means that we are now sailing down wind which has changed everything. The boat is flat-ish so no need for climbing gear to get into bunks and the cooks can keep most of the food in the pans rather than the walls. Not only that, the boat is going faster, the sun is out and there are no squalls to ruin our enjoyment – what's not to like?

We are now only a handful of days from our end destination so inevitabely discussion has turned to either how many days do we estimate we will be on the water and/or what will the first meal and drink be. At current speeds are we are only five days away so excitement is building.

Like everyone we miss our friends and family at home, so I'm going to make shameless use of this blog to say; well done to my daughter, Emma, on her great exam results and to Alex for getting into the first hockey team – well done girls!

Best wishes from the Qingdao crew – somewhere off the coast of Brazil.