Lisa McDonald, skipper of Amer Sports Too, chats about the start of Leg 3 and tricky conditions as they head for Hobart

Having taken a relatively clean start, the girls aboard Amer Sports Too are back in last slot once again. The boat is well prepared but they lack that extra bit of speed just when it’s needed. Lisa McDonald, skipper of Amer Sports Too, chats about the start of Leg 3 and tricky conditions as they head for Hobart

The fleet set sail on Boxing Day in a smoky haze of unsettled wind. The gradient breeze from the south-west was wrestling with the ever-strengthening sea breeze from the north-east; the start line was in the middle. We were prepared for everything up to the start gun; we had a jib, a Code 0 and a spinnaker, all ready to go on the bow. Knowing the harbour would be so busy, we were looking for a clean start and clear air off the start line – we got the clean start but without much air. The weather was still changeable getting out of the harbour with a Code 0 and a jib, then reaching around the South Head with a Code 0 into the afternoon.

There have been terrible bush fires near Sydney and offshore, you could smell the smoke before you got the wind shift from the land. As the day went on, the fleet raced south under smouldering skies. The end of the day brought some of the most turbulent weather I have seen for a long time. I was getting an hour shuteye when the call came, waterspout ahead, and building. It was a huge water-funnel from the sea to the sky, fortunately not in our path but it looked as if it could cause a serious amount of damage if you got tangled up with it. There were other little ones under the clouds; they come as quickly as they go. The night was gusty and squally until it settled in so we are on the wind to Hobart in 20-30ish knots and launching off some nasty waves enhanced by wind against current.

All for now as I am struggling to get the fingers to the keyboard and end up with something legible at the end.