Over the years I have been privileged to have experienced a wide variety of Christmases from childhood through to the Royal Marines. If I put saving Raphael Dinelli during the Vendee Globe at the top of the list then yesterday would come a very close second for it was perfect.

As we rolled into the 25th of December 2008 the wind increased and Spirit of Mystery Mystery lifted her skirts and made a run for Cape Town surfing on the residual swell from our big blow. It was a beautiful night which although a bit chilly allowed us the freedom of just wearing thermals; always very liberating after a few days in full gear.

Eliot spotted the first sight of land in the dark as we were putting our final reef into the big lug and a fission of excitement swept through the boat. We were actually going to make Cape Town for Christmas with the family and Eliot was effervescent with excitement; singing and dancing a little jig on the foredeck.

Dawn could not have been any better as the sun rose to throw the mountain range into silhouette with a beautifully mellow golden sunrise which was unable to drown out the moon that sat above it all. Albatross capped it as they swept about us with efficient grace and suddenly we smelt Africa and I can tell you that after a couple of months at sea it has an evocative smell.

Cape Town was on us before we knew it and we called the families to let them know we would be in a couple of hours. We all had a shave, washed our hair and gave Spirit of Mystery a quick tidy up. Campbell came out in the Club launch to greet us and took Andy off for a picture with table Mountain in the background. It was, he said, an odd experience to see our fine little craft from the outside after so long living in our little nut shell.

I tied the South African Courtesy flag under tour big St Pirrans and it was this little act of tradition that really bought it home to me. We had done it and I stole a couple of minutes to reflect on this amazing project and the people that have made it happen. Like most good things in life this, a couple of years ago, was just another daft idea. Lots of hard work, commitment and an amazing team ranging from Chris Rees and all the suppliers, Cornwall Playing for Success, Stuart Elford, our sponsors and Mandy to name but a few have made this such a special experience.

The families were waving and shouting from the pontoon as we came in for a big hug. We made spirit fast and trundled into the bar for a well earned beer; it was cold, had condensation running down it and was like nectar. One of my memories is of Eliot taking his first gulp of a man's size beer for he has stepped up to the plate, been there done that and earned it.

The rest is a happy blur; we found a restaurant with live music and tucked into a meal to die for. Jess, my niece, took to the stage and brought the place to a standstill. The house we are staying in is fantastic and the kitchen is bigger than Spirit of Mystery. As ever the little things mean so much more, a hot shower, cup of tea and toast.

I woke up after four hours of sleep and crept down to the office to look at the website and all the lovely messages of support that we have been sent since slipping from Newlyn all those miles ago. It was fantastic and I would like to sign off with a big thank you from the four of us for joining us on our adventure; Happy Christmas.

Cheers Pete

Well, what else could anyone ask for on Christmas Day? I've had several emails and calls from friends and supporters asking if Spirit of Mystery had yet made it into Cape Town, and I can now confirm that YES they have arrived safe and well. I wonder who had won the sweepstake in Newlyn - no doubt Paul Moody will let us know how close the winner was to the actual arrival time?

Pete called from Cape Town at 12.25pm saying that they were sat in a restaurant enjoying beer and wine and waiting for their Christmas dinner, and obviously all four crew members were incredibly happy to be celebrating both their arrival and Christmas with the rest of their families.

I'm sure that you will all agree that the arrival in Cape Town couldn't have been any better - not for us supporters anyway! It certainly was an exciting and entertaining finish to the first part of their journey.

Many congratulations to Pete, Mark, Andy and Eliot for making Christmas Day that little bit more special for their avid supporters!

Have a well earned rest guys and have a really great Christmas.

Cheers Mandy

The last couple of days have been so full and varied that I hardly know where to start for they have been action packed thanks to a couple of gales; the last one bringing with it what the sailors of old used to call 'Grey Beards'. A swell of such gargantuan proportions that only the Southern Ocean seems able to generate.
The first blow was just a blow in that it was hard work and left us tired and ill at ease thanks to a forecast of 35-40Knts with gusts of 45-50knts. We had our first really big one on the way and as ever waiting was dreadful for the imagination, however much you try can never be held in check. In the middle of all this we had the most extraordinary experience. Mark who was doing the dishes on deck commented on how warm the water seemed to be and at the same time Eliot noticed something odd. We seemed to be being followed by something dark and indeterminate, sometimes small and at other times large and we wondered if it might be dolphins or whales but there was no surfacing for air before they faded away. They suddenly turned red and grew in size and length, as if some unseen knife had slashed the surface of the sea and blood was welling up through the cut. Eliot twigged it; Krill! As if on cue a big whale surfaced not more than forty feet away running on a parallel course and here we were in the middle of it. I have always said to Eliot that this trip was about doing and seeing these things rather than observing others have the privilege through an electronic box in the corner of the front room.

The storm soon started to make itself felt through a huge swell from the SW; much like a pulse radiating out its relentless intent from a dark, malevolent and distant heartbeat. These Southern Ocean Grey Beards are impossible to describe for there is nothing that I know of that stands up as a realistic reference. They are the size of houses, hills even but this can never convey the power or living, moving, ever evolving nature of them as they tear their way into the distance without pause. Every now and then they erupt with a force that resonates with a heavy deep throated roar. Once heard it will never leave you for it is the sound of an energy level that will not even sense the presence of a boat. All you can do is steer down the wave, duck, hold on, wait for the thump and hope that you can hold her true and straight for to spin out now means carnage. It's adrenalin charged, dangerous and goes on and on without respite for they had a frequency of 18 seconds and were at least 15metres in height.

Every now and then a wave gets the better of you and although we managed to avoid a knock down we did get the bulwarks under and lose the boat in broken water. The power is awesome and below it sounds and feels like a car has driven into the side of the boat with a crash. This is followed by a gut wrenching judder as she goes over with a loud rush of water sweeping the deck. Andy had a big breaker and from below Mark and I caught a flash of foul weather gear as he was flicked from one side of the boat to the other like a rag doll on the end of a stick. Despite holding on for grim death nothing but nothing was going to have any effect on the tiller and we are all a bit battered and bruised by the effort. It doesn't stop there for the weight of the high pressure water is incredible and of course the decks end up fully awash as Spirit of Mystery shakes herself and bobs up undeterred like a Cornish Bulldog. She is an amazing boat and I can't speak highly enough of Chris Rees and his team for it is these guys that enable us enjoy the experience.

I know it must sound daft but we did enjoy it for at no point did we doubt the boats ability to look after us. Driving rain with gust of over forty five knots and huge seas made a majestic scene particularly when sat three feet above the surface on a small 37ft Mounts Bay Lugger 7000Nm from home. I have slowly built up an empathy for the original crew but if ever there was a link back through time to 1854 it would be the words 'Our Gallant Little Ship' that often crop up in Capt Richard Nicholls log during a storm. I could not think of a more apt description of Spirit of Mystery for she is remarkable in her sea keeping qualities.

Cheers Pete