After yesterday's postponed start most of the World ARC fleet fought their way out of bed at the crack of dawn in preparation for the 8am start. Quite uncivilised really. The smart folk stayed in bed and will leave tomorrow.

As the previous day we had given all our remaining Pesos to the ARC charity (although we don't like to talk about it) we didn't have a bawbee to spend. The good news was that, sans cash we were denied use of the many street vendors and cheaper eateries. The good news was we had yet another fantastic local meal courtesy of Messers Visa.

Colombia, or at least the few square miles we've seen doesn't bear any resemblance to the dangerous place I'd imagined. No sign of the Medellin drug barons and absolutely no hostages taken. In fact, it was just like many Spanish towns we've hit in the last few years. Bars and restaurants around the squares, al fresco dining while street artists performed all around. It's a shame we've had so little time here as, inland there's much to see and do.

Anyway, fed and watered last night we hit the sack for an early start. The forecast was pretty much the same as yesterday and we waved goodbye to Colombia and Santa Marta. The port "Armada", the Customs and Immigration came out in their massive RIB and, after the start, powered around every single boat to enthusiastically wave goodbye. Santa Marta really rolled out the red carpet for us.

So, at 8am in flat calm we motored over the start line out into 40 knots. At least thats what we were told as our wind instrument died and only shows ---. The seas were big and steep. One was like a giant surf wave and as we were reaching along parallel to them there was a load of green water flying around. One roller's crest broke just as it reached us. We sailed right under it, into what a surfer would call "the tube" and the whole lot dumped on us, stem to stern. Totally soaked but at least it got rid of the coal dust.

We've just had dinner. M&S steak and rice cooked in sea water. Yummy. While it's not a race, there was a start line, there is a fleet and there are prizes. So, we're fourth from the front of the fleet, pressing on....... pointlessly as at anything more than 5 knots we will have to heave-to off San Blas as night entries are not on. The wrecks over the reefs are testament to that.

Dark now, so on shift and outta here.