Now most of the fleet has escaped the clutches of the Canary Islands, the next 24 hours will see the yachts move steadily southwards as they move into an area of strengthening winds. The one exception is New York, which has struggled to move out of the lee of the islands and their overnight run of just 46 nautical miles could also indicate some sail damage.

Race Director, Joff Bailey, comments, “In ocean racing it is often the case that the rich get richer and with the leading pair, Nova Scotia and Durban 2010 and Beyond likely to benefit first from the steady trade winds, this is the likely scenario here – certainly as far as the Doldrums.”

Steady wind conditions will be a welcome relief for the fleet after the constant changes since the departure from La Rochelle. It will allow the crews to settle down further into life at sea which, based on this morning’s report, those on board Qingdao appear to be doing already, according to their skipper, Marcus Cholerton-Brown.

“Morning all,” he writes. “Tracking along nicely this morning. Had a good happy hour yesterday. Why is it that people always want to dress up as pirates on a boat? Is it too many Burt Lancaster films as a child?! Have now changed to our warm weather watch system and we are going well on our race plan. Marvellous. Chollers.”

Marcus reveals one of the big issues that will also now be affecting the crew: tropical temperatures. It is a subject very much on the minds of those on Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper, too. Hannah the skipper also makes mention of it in her morning email back to the Race Office. She writes, “It is hotting up here on the black boat. Not only are we feeling the heat from the intense battle to snatch back a podium slot but by day it becomes somewhat oven like on board. I think we might all be well done by the Equator!”

Joff says, “From my own experience I can sympathise with them. The night watch gives some relief from the intense heat on board but the humidity stays the same and it becomes very difficult to sleep.”

Heat and fractured sleep patterns are major contributors to frayed tempers and in those situations the skipper, who is essentially head of the onboard family, has to step in to deal with them.

“The only difference is,” according to Joff, “there’s nowhere to hide for some peace and quiet – heading up the mast isn’t the same as escaping to the Post Office to collect the family allowance.”

The navigators will be busy looking at the latest weather reports sent out by the Race Office and trying to select the best route through the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone – otherwise known as the Doldrums). After the start in La Rochelle there are no restrictions on the route the yachts can take on the way to Brazil and the finish line in Salvador da Bahia. So not only do the crew have to sail the boats fast, they also have to select the best way to go. On some of the later races the Race Committee may put waypoints or gates into the course to prevent the fleet going into an undesirable area, for example too far south in the Southern Ocean or too far north in the North Pacific.