BT Global Challenge - Looking back at Leg 4

madforsailing's diary writer Andy Magrath reflects on the match race into Sydney Harbour and looks forward to Leg 5

The last 24 hours of the leg from Wellington to Sydney involved every emotion from windless frustration to the most exciting helming of the trip so far, to the elation of a great finish.
We arrived on 26 February. The wind had been 4-8 knot for four days until Sunday when it picked up. A 20-25 knot 2.2 oz spinnaker reach! Throw in a couple of broaches for good measure.

Over night we had four helms, myself, Cian, Conrad and Dickon. When the breeze came too far forward we dropped the kite and had the No.1 Yankee, staysail and full main. We were still powering along at 12-15 knots - fantastic sailing.

Monday morning brought a drop in wind. We could see the approach to Sydney. Logica had a 20-minute lead and BP were in 2nd place. As we came into the harbour we stole the lead. BP and Logica had sailed into a windless hole.

We all had to concentrate in order to get every last drop of boat speed out of LG Flatron. BP were right behind us, 0.75 spinny up and taking our wind. 400 metres to go and they gybed over the top of us, we followed. Another 200m and we would have caught them but they hung on to their slender advantage and beat us by 25 seconds. Well done to Mark Denton and his crew.

On Sunday we leave for Cape town. This leg will take 37-40 days. It will be the toughest leg of the trip so far - the coldest, wettest and roughest. I can't deny that I am both excited and anxious at the same time. However, the boat is ready and the crew are ready.

The next 40 days are to set challenges to the crews of all the yachts that we have never faced before and probably never will again, but personally I can't wait to get going.