As expected in the Doldrums, the mood swings of conditions overhead are the big talking point on board. There has been a deluge of emails peppered with chatter about rain and clouds. And more clouds.
With the fleet continuing to compress, there is something of the global credit crunch to the profits and losses on the leaderboard. Rescue packages – in the shape of squalls – are going to be the determining factor for a while yet.
PUMA’s Ken Read summed it up nicely when talking of the shoe boat’s predicament relative to its closest rival Ericsson 3. The pair have been trading miles for three days now. By the 16:00 GMT Position Report, PUMA led by just two.
"Two days ago Ericsson 3 sailed into our world after we got out of a squall into some lighter air,” Read observed. “We then started a 48-hour flat out drag race and slowly pulled out a four-mile lead, only to have it evaporate late last night in one squall. We slowed to 11 knots, they came roaring up at 20 knots and it has been game on ever since.
"They get one (a squall), we get one, just an hour ago they got one and have a few miles on us now. Hence the fact that I have started this note about five different times now only to hear a bit of commotion on deck and dash out to join the sail changing frenzy which usually accompanies a squall.”
Ah yes, with the cumulus and the squalls comes a flurry of activity on board. Sail changes or engine tweaks if you like.
According to Ericsson 4 Media Crew Member Guy Salter it has been hard graft on the lead boat. Torben Grael’s men hold a 27-mile advantage over PUMA but they have “fought tooth and nail” for every inch of it.
Virtually parked up in the Pacific Ocean watching the rest of the fleet closing in the rear view mirrors can’t be much fun.
"The clouds often left us in a complete void with out even a breathe of wind – before suddenly sending down a squall with such speed that we often found ourselves a fair way off our optimal course,” Salter wrote.
"Sail changes have been well into the double figures today – in fact we have probably changed sails more today than we did in the first six days of racing.
"With the clouds comes big gains and losses – and as the sched (Position Report) is what we depend on every three hours – so it does hurt a little when you don’t do so well on a few – like today. It’s all about your route through the cloud minefield – but often you just can’t avoid them and have to accept that several miles away your competitor is having an easier time of it ... for now.”
As for a vivid description of the squalls, nobody does it better that PUMA’s Rick Deppe.
"I got a nasty awakening this morning as I was rolled out of my bunk without warning,” he said. “Fortunately I landed in the stack below me, but the boat was tipped over at such an angle that if you didn't know what was going on you might think the boat was about to capsize. We’d been hit by another line squall; they are prevalent in this part of the world and have some teeth as well. Wind speeds in a squall can easily increase by 20 knots.
"The first indication that you are going to get nailed will be a general darkening and thickening of the clouds to weather, therefore if you’re reaching and you see some activity at about 45 degrees off the windward bow, you need to start getting prepared.
"Once in the squall, the rain will be torrential. The water is so cool and clean it provides a great chance for a shower and generally speaking the on-deck watch has to work around the off watch guys piling out of the hatch clutching shower gel.”
Showering in the Doldrums is about cleanliness versus risk, according to Telefonica Blue’s Simon Fisher.
"With all the rain about today there has been something of a shower-fest with everyone taking the opportunity to try and clean up a bit,” he said. “This is certainly a better tactic than applying copious amounts of cologne to mask an already unpleasant smell but is a risky game all the same.
"Get caught out covered in soap when the rain stops and your are either forced to wait for the next cloud or resign yourself to rinsing in salt water ending up back where you started.”
It is said that a race as punishing as this can take years off your life. For Ian Walker that life-altering moment was today. Well almost.
The Green Dragon skipper was celebrating his 39th birthday and claims he was given a reprieve by the ravages of time.
He explains: “Today is my 39th birthday and I have actually had a lucky escape as we should be crossing the date line tomorrow or the next day and had it been today I could have seen me celebrating my birthday twice in one year – I didn't fancy turning 40 this year.”
Furthermore, he lamented the fact that there were no home comforts to be had. “Sadly there was no tea in bed, no birthday cards and no presents – it would have been a long way for the postie (postman) to come.
"I did have a few surprises though. Firstly I had a conference call with our CEO Jamie Boag who was at a function in Boston and I was treated to a rendition of “Happy Birthday” on speakerphone from everybody including the Mayor of Boston. There was also a bottle of Guinness and a lovely fruit cake.
"And, as it's my birthday, I treated myself to a fresh water wash down and a clean pair of undies.” Bit too much information thanks Ian, but happy birthday.