Crew member GBR1R ICAP Leopard

Monday 15 August - 13.00 BST

To be leading such a great fleet almost from the beginning of the race is a

huge thrill, but now we really come under attack. It is clear that whoever

wins over the line will break our record of some 44 hours by a good margin.

Rambler have been disadvantaged from when they broke their J2 in the Solent

as the majority of the race so far has been under 14 knots. As the breeze

builds as expected we can expect a real dog-fight on the remaining 100 miles

to the Rock and a rocket ride back to Plymouth.

A lot of fun during the night navigating our way from the Lizard past Land's

End and into the Irish Sea when we were the first to tack north, swiftly

followed by much of the fleet. We are now halfway across the Irish Sea, boat

speed 14 plus knots directly to the Rock which we expect to pass at 16.30

(BST). Rambler is eating away at our lead on our windward hip. All

nail-bighting stuff. Life on board cheerful with usual rubbish jokes with

the Nav station as popular as a Comet store in a riot.

Love to all, Mike Slade