This is a race, of 18 yachts, crewed by amateur sailors.

The race is particularly difficult as it's going the wrong way round the world against the currents and winds.

The boat is likely to be always heeled over at about 45 degrees, smashing through huge waves and always struggling to cover any distance.

60 knot winds, -30 degrees Celsius, 50ft waves (including dropping off them!)... !

Watch shifts run every 4 hours, you don't sleep until completely exhausted (and have to be strapped into the bunk), showering is unlikely and you can expect to be cold, damp and wet for pretty much every one of the 40 days at sea.

And that's not to mention the extreme physical effort required to move a wet heavy sail down the side of the deck whilst being knocked over by waves, often with a few tons of weight behind them... at the same time the boat is bouncing off waves.

One burns about 6-7,000 calories a day...

There is no differentiation in work tasks between day and night, no facility to take a break, complain that one's wet/cold/tired/missing Mummy. This leg can turn from racing into survival. 

The race is of 12 identical, purpose made, 72 foot, 42 ton steel yachts crewed by 18.

The race is divided into 7 legs and as doing them all takes about a year, I thought I'd do just one... the worst (well, I can't be wanting to go back for more, can I?!)

I was on Team Stelmar, which was a great team to be with.

Quite a challenge....   :)