Rona (mistress of the snakepit), Duggie (skipper and master stategist) and Angus (crack helm and self proclaimed sexual Adonis of The Shetlands) have all had it, and now I’ve got it. Yes, the boat cold. Not serious enough for you to take to your bunk but unpleasant all the same. Add to that a crack on the head from the wandering elbow of one crewmember with all the grace and poise of a fresian with BSE, I am a little grumpy.

On the up side, as we came on watch at 3.00am, we romped passed St Kilda, its 300ft overhang looming up and casting a wind shadow over our course. BG Group have taken a more northerly track but our tactic is to take the shortest course and stay in touch with Spirit of Southampton, who following a sneaky headsail change in the early hours, are about half a mile dead ahead. The wind has risen again, gusting up to 20 knots and more from the East, requiring a quick headsail change to the number two, swiftly followed by the number one reef. It is a stark contrast to yesterday’s flat calm and balmy conditions but good to be eating up the miles again even if we are walking on the walls again. We have the Shetlands and the halfway point firmly in our sights and we are exactly where we want to be at the front of the pack.