BT Global Challenge - Leg 2 - 7th November

'Finally we are round Capo Branco (the lump of Brazil that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean) and on our way to Buenos Aires. It is now a case of following the rhumb line, ands it feels like a 12 day drag race to the finish. We have 15-20 knots of wind across the port beam and hopefully it will stay that way. We finally got the 2.2 oz spinnaker up during the early hours of this morning. It is great to finally be doing some downwind sailing!

The boat no longer heels at 30 degrees, in fact some of the time it is almost level. The difference this makes to life below decks is immeasurable. The sun is shining and we are cracking along at ten-to-12 knots, our lead currently stands at 66 miles and life is good! It's also more intense with the spinnaker up - particularly above decks - it really focuses the mind on the fact that we are racing. One error could hand us a broach and a broken spinnaker pole or a ripped sail.

The general mood on board has definitley taken a turn for the better as we can see the light at the end of the tunnel - not that we are taking our position for granted of course. Last night at supper time we had a James Bond theme party to liven things up. Everyone had to come in fancy dress and Archie made a dramatic entrance through the saloon hatch to the sound of the Bond theme tune - we have to have some fun sometimes! Everyone made a real effort and Archie had made a poster with a list of Bond titles such as 'Live and Let Luff', 'The man with the Gunwale Bum', 'Licence to Gybe' , 'For your Watch Only', 'From FLATRON with Love' etc. etc. - ok ok maybe we've been out here too long.'

LG FLATRON have retained and increased their lead since Andy wrote his report, and at 0751 GMT on Tuesday 7th November, the BT Global Challenge website reported the positions and distances to the finish of the top six as:

1 LG FLATRON 1898 nm
2 Spirit of Hong Kong 1975 nm
3 VERITAS 1984 nm
4 BP 1989 nm
5 Compaq 1994 nm
6 Logica 2001 nm