TEAM RUSSIA EMAIL: 'We had a very unlucky incident last night catching a rope in the port rudder'

Sunday 23 November 2008 01:26/p>

Team Russia - Andreas Hanakamp (skipper)

We had a very unlucky incident last night catching a rope in the port rudder, not a piece of string but seven metres of heavy armthick stuff that stalled the rudder and slowed us down. It took some time to get rid of it and ruined our sched.

Having a catch in an area with lots of shipping is one thing, but in the middle of the Indian Ocean, where we haven't seen a ship for the last week is like one in a million.

Everyone on board really enjoyed yesterday's warmer and drier weather after being cold and wet for almost a week. Everything went on deck to dry out, less moisture is less weight which will help in the light stuff ahead.

On this leg our technical issues seem to be dominated by electrics ... after getting electrocuted when touching anything in the navstation its now the SSB not wanting to get switched off, no matter what you do unless cutting the main power supply to the amplifier.

Why the SSB? Because all the Anglosaxons on board got very nervous about some Rugby yesterday and there was hope that BBC world service would broadcast it.

Received 01:26