Ellen's diary, log two

Sailing star Ellen MacArthur is writing a daily diary for BBC Sport Online throughout her latest race, the Transat Jacques Vabre.

What a night!

It was incredible, and at times it felt like balancing on a tight rope as the wind howled past every part of you.

Foncia became harder to steer as we continued in 25-30 knots with the gennaker and full main.

However, bit by bit we reduced the sail and this morning, having passed Finisterre, we were flying along at 22-28 knots under one reef and trinquete.

Protection

It was incredibly dark at the beginning of the night and the clouds seemed to come down to the water - a blanket over everything.

Everything, but the wind.

Thank goodness, after a few hours, the moon rose though the clouds - it was a godsend.

The wave crests become your guide as they are the only thing you can make out at speed.

As you grip the side of the seat with your free hand, and the tip of the tiller with the other, you think of little but protecting that person, Alain, who is sleeping below.

Difficult to steer

It is your watch and you are in control of a mighty machine that is eating up the miles.

With each wave taken, and passed, there is a sigh of relief.

But each squall brings a newly held breath and you hope that, as the bow digs in, it will slowly lift and free itself from its dark descent into the waves.

Three hulls are not the same to steer as one. They dig deeper into the waves and it's hard to judge how far is too far.

After three hours on the helm your arms feel like they will never bend again, and your concentration is spent.

Special moments

But you never feel like sleeping - the adrenalin from keeping things together stops any hint of weariness.

Alain and I have tried different lengths of watches, but with the motion, it's almost impossible to sleep at all, and takes at least half an hour to dry off and drop off.

It's also hard because you know you'll be missing things as the night is such a special time, and early this morning was a point in case.

There was something quite strange. A bright red sky in the north, with a shimmering light coming up from behind the clouds.

It was something I had never seen before and is hard to explain. It was neither sunrise nor sunset, as they were hours away.

It's time to go, it'll soon be my steer.

Funnily enough, I'm actually looking forward to it!
E