Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
This is my first journal entry. Well, here goes…….

WEBSITE - Two weeks ago, I released my website address. There's no need for a plug as you are already here, but just  imagine all  the conversations I have had since then,  encouraging my colleagues and friends to visit! It seems to have worked anyway as www.seachallenge.com (just couldn't resist it!) has had 400 hits in 18 days. What I'd like to know  is, who is the person in Tonga who stumbled across the site before the release date and has visited again since? Visitors so far include those from USA, UK, Netherlands, UAE, Tonga, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Sweden, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Belgium and Thailand, so I'm  feeling quite globally exposed right now!

FITNESS - This has figured strongly in the last few weeks. It has to! Swimming has become much more of a pleasure than when I started a year ago. Then it was laboured and slow but I find that the more I do, the easier and more enjoyable it becomes. I wish I could say the same for the time I spend running on the treadmill at the gym, but I'm persisting at that! In this December's training sail in Plymouth,  I want to run those four miles faster!

SPONSORS -  My list of personal sponsors to thank is growing. 'Days at Sea' is based on an idea by former BT Global Challenge training skipper Pete Goss (he who rescued Raphael Dinelli in the Vendée Globe). To those who have sponsored so far, thank you so much for investing this interest  in me. When it gets tough out there, and it will, I'll remember that you encouraged me in this way and that, hopefully, you will be following my progress.

SAS -  No, not the army, but another growing band of sailors at Serasa (Royal Brunei Yacht Club) who join in Saturday Afternoon Sailing. Whilst Sunday racing is pretty competitive, the emphasis for Saturday sailing is mostly about having fun. It's the time for novices to learn and for other sailors to improve. So, congratulations to the 35 sailors who competed in the recent 'international' regatta. Well done! 

SUNDAY SAILING - This time, racing  in the South China Sea  involved almost being mown down in open water by a supply ship which was not 'restricted in its ability to manoeuvre' a mile or so offshore. Even though we were on starboard and had the right of way, it clearly intended to cross our bow. We should have been able to hold our course, but preservation of life being paramount in the face of imminent danger, we tacked  off.  A lesson was learnt nevertheless – to always keep a good lookout, because a 500  ton vessel looks pretty mean on top of a 14 foot (100kg) dinghy whether you are in the right or not.

Guestbook updated? Yes / Legs 1-2 updated? Yes / Legs 3- 4 updated? Yes / Legs 5-7 updated? Yes 

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