Position at 0830 GMT 59.24N 45 00W

Finding a way through the ice is a bit of a game and can not be rushed. The boats thread their way through the channels, known as leads, but it is very difficult to see how far the ice stretches. One is therefore cautious about getting too far in and finding no way out! I suspect there will be frequent trips up to the first spreaders to try and get a better view. Another clue is the colour of the sky. A dark sky indicates the reflection of the sea and clear water. Robin reported yesterday about a muffled roar coming from the ice as it rubbed against itself.

Brash ice is not dangerous in that it will not freeze around the boats but the main worry is that if the wind gets up it can be blown at some speed and cause damage. For this reason they will only be near the brash if the wind is light.

The main engine sits under the seat the saloon. This 6 cylinder Perkins engine has been modified by Sabre for marine use. In my experience I have never known it fail to start after a couple of seconds and quite unlike my previous sailing experience is a bit of equipment that seemed to be trouble free. The only problems I have known with them has been connected with dirty fuel or with water in the fuel picked up in some ports (not all foreign!). In addition to the normal water trap and reservoir on the CAV filter there is an electric sensor which is connected to a warning light. This has proved very effective on the few occasions when there has been a problem.

Fuel is stored in two stainless steel tanks below the oilskin area. The capacity of the tanks is designed for the Clipper race where the generator uses relatively little fuel. This equates to about 400 miles of motoring at best economic speed. (About 6.5 knots at 1700 revs) For the Greenland voyage it is envisaged that there may be call to motor in some of the fjords and as there will be little opportunity to take on more diesel extra fuel is being carried in additional drums and jerrycans. Fuel management will be an important point for them to watch. The generator uses the same tanks but has an additional ready use tank above it and the opposite side of the compartment. This is filled by a hand pump Before this was fitted it drew the fuel up from the tanks which worked OK but proved a devil of a job purge if there had been a problem. It also provides another useful check if there is dirty fuel.

The Clippers are fitted with three bladed folding propellers. This are extremely effective and a measure of the difference they make is that before Clipper 96 when Antiope had to have a fixed prop for a short period she was a lot slower - I would say half a knot. This happened during Part C training when she was supposedly 'match racing' and so was rather demoralising for the crews.

Half a knot on the race would mean 15.25 days more sea time. That's a lot of beers missed in the marina bar!