Over the last few months a relationship has developed between us - a special fax relationship. Sometimes the shriek of the 5 o'clock alarm call is pre-empted by the pleasant sound of paper churning from the fax machine. I have no problems getting up on these mornings.

One November morning, during the Rio to Wellington leg, I was woken in the early hours by a fax from James. It said 'WE ARE FIRST', Time & Tide were leading the fleet. I was ecstatic. I knew what this would mean to the crew and especially James who has always been emphatic that Time & Tide would compete on equal terms. They were first and nobody would be able to take this away from them.

My flatmates weren't too happy with me. I woke them up to tell them the news and they were so happy they couldn't sleep either !. I got to work at 4.30am that morning to send a special congratulations fax.

But it's not always good news. The emotional barometer swings from extreme highs to lows as faxes reveal intense frustration and exhaustion caused by conditions I can only dream of from the warm safety of my duvet.

It's hard knowing you can't offer practical solutions but a few carefully chosen words can be very powerful. I know this to be true because of the words James faxed to me from the Southern Ocean when my Dad died, two days before Christmas. His words got me through it; offered comfort and support with a smile.

I hope mine do the same.

Sarah Rowe
Girlfriend of James Hatfield - Skipper of Time & Tide.