Has been a trying time in the last few days for the fleet as another one of our friends and competitors, Turnagain has been forced to abandon due to steering issues. We ourselves have had gear failure the last few days that has forced some 'interesting' kite takedowns and watery sail retrievals. We can't complain given that others have had to retire and we know the fleet west of us are also having their own issues, that's offshore racing. But what has happened here on Miles is a sense of teamwork to levels we have not seen before. Guys jumping out of bed to assist, guys running to the foredeck to help a buddy despite pounding seas and high winds. All this calamity has brought a tight group tighter. Vic Maui is al about this really, not just the Lahaina trophy but the forging of lifelong bounds from solving problems together and listening to new ideas. Miles storms on.

Today is sunny and the cloud streets are here. We are in the trade winds and have just passed the 'less than 1,000 kms to go' mark. Stoke is high. Maui we are coming for ya.