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It is 03:00 and I am on anchor watch until 04:30. We are anchored in Sausoledo, just under the Golden Gate Bridge.

The last few days have been tough, exhausting, but now they are over - very enjoyable. Whoever named the Pacific Ocean got it a bit wrong. We have had some wild seas, high winds and very wet and cold conditions - without every having a cloud in the sky.

Wednesday last week was the worst of it, with F8 (35-45) and very lumpy and breaking waves. I got sea sick, as did everyone else except Peter (skipper). Then we had a quieter patch of a day or two, followed by some more of the rough stuff - F7 and spray and breakers again. I had two bad times on the foredeck, once being washed to the leeward guard rails semi drowned, coming up short of going overboard saved by my safety strap. The second time I had a similar time of it, but tried to hold on by wrapping my legs around the forestay. Bad mistake - it ripped and tossed me, and I think I have torn some muscles in both legs. It's not too bad, just painful doing some stuff - like sailing in a yacht.

Today (Monday 7th) we are going to do some spinnaker work in San Francisco Bay, and then tomorrow it is cleanup and for Dave and I, back to the hotel for some sleep and to dry some of our clothes. The flight back to Heathrow is on Thursday afternoon, arriving on Friday morning. I will make my way to Basingstoke by coach and see you at Winterthur. Missing you lots.

Dave's snoring is a right earful. Luckily he was on the other watch, and for most of the sail the noise of the wind and water managed to mask it. Not so tonight at anchor.

See you soon. I will try and phone on Tuesday night at 23:00, which should be 07:00 in the UK on Wednesday the 9th to wish Nicky a happy sixteenth birthday. If I cant manage it - then Happy birthday Nicky, see you on Friday.

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