Last night Medallia and I achieved our highest ever top speed - 27 knots - and we put in a 4 hour run with an average pace of over 19 knots. Wow! that was incredible.

I have been asked a lot if the time has gone quickly. Do I notice the passage of time? I think what people want to know really is am I marking off the days at sea, or the days till I get back home.

This race is not just about speed, it's about strength, knowledge, discipline and keeping your cool. There are many, many ocean miles to come, many opportunities, many pitfalls I just need to be ready to take them on.

Before Pip set sail in this year’s Vendée Globe, she worked with Resilient Nutrition to design an on-board meal plan that would help her boost performance and general wellbeing at sea.

I wandered forwards with my search light and saw the sail, flying up in the air, the tack line was broken so the sail was attached only at the top and back corners of the triangle, the only thing stopping the whole sail from wildly flailing around was the furling line hooked under the pulpit, the force of which was bending the metal framework upwards.

Me, I'm counting it in bags of dry underwear - when it's gone it's gone so I need to sail as fast as I change my socks.