Hilary Bowden, on board the yacht Spirit of Hong Kong

The remainder of the fleet was seconds behind jockeying for position - multi-coloured sails vying for the best wind. The bows of the yachts just feet apart at times.

The day had started foggily but as we raced up the Solent the sun was on our backs. As far as the eye could see there were thousands of boats and ferries stacked high with supporters sounding their klaxon horns and waving banners:

"Good luck - we're with you in spirit." Adrenalin was surging but the wind wasn't and Mario still found time to puff on a cigar as Tom Jones classics were belted out on our on-deck stereo as we made our way up to the Isle of Wight.

'It's a long way to go'

We'd had a pep talk from skipper Stephen Wilkins the night before along the lines of "Let's kick ass guys!"

But a combination of light winds and changing tides meant that we had to anchor off Hurst Castle before an eddy was able to finally push us round on our way towards the States.

According to race rankings we are still up among frontrunners Compaq and Flatron, but it's a long way to go to Boston and only time will tell whose tactics will pay off.

Spirit of Hong Kong starts as it means to go on - in the lead

Some skippers are heading north, some south and some look as though they haven't quite made up their mind at the moment.

But the crew is slogging away to make sure the boat performs at its peak, trimming sails constantly. We are split into two separate watches, Orca and Albatross. We work four hours on and four hours off during the night and six hours on, six hours off during the day.

It's taken a while to get used to. At first it felt like a cruel joke - someone waking me up when I'd only just shut my eyes.

Underwear arrangements

The lack of washing is also a bit weird. Only one person per watch can shower each day and I was only allowed to bring four pairs of underwear to last me three weeks!

I seem to be eating meals all the time, but lugging sails and winding winches is hungry work. We're supposed to be consuming something like 4,000 calories a day.

The boat is at an angle of 30 degrees for most of the time which makes walking around above and below deck a bit like mountaineering.

Trying to use the bathroom ain't easy, neither is making a cup of tea. I have so many bruises I look as though I've done three rounds with Mike Tyson.

Brush with the bilges

Other watch duties include checking the bilges at the bottom of the boat to see if they are filled with water.

They are often filled with other stuff because Skip hurls things he find lying about into them. So far my deckshoes and green towel have been victims. Kath lost a toothbrush.

Another important duty is making sure that Skip has an uninterrupted supply of fags and tea. Failure to neglect any of these duties can have serious consequences.

Now that we are more out to sea the weather has got rougher and a few people are suffering from seasickness but spirits are still high and some of the guys have been playing basketball and golf in the galley.

One big family

Saying goodbye to friends and family at the dockside in Southampton was an emotional time for many of them.

But they have formed their own surrogate family on board to help them get through the next 10 months. Jennie Jackson, 47, a former postal worker said: "We'll look after each other."

During quiet times on the night watch, we just stare at the stars and make up stupid songs to keep warm.

Sometimes there is not another vessel in sight, just the moon looking down on a black sea.

Occasionally in the distance, we spot one of our competitors, a sight which spurs us on. I feel as though I'm learning a lot about sailing.

Standing at the helm Stephen says: "It's bloody marvellous to be out at sea again."

BBC News Online's Hilary Bowden will be filing regular reports from on board the yacht Spirit of Hong Kong.