Singapore is hot! Only about 70 miles north of the equator the temperature is mid-30's at least during the day and the humidity especially makes things uncomfortable. I decide to sleep on the boat whilst we are working on her as I'm planning on meeting up with Gary and Julie Morris in Sabah to do some diving in a few days.

Night time is bearable but you find you have to be off the boat by 9.30 am as conditions quickly become ovenlike below decks once the sun is up. Meet up with Kane (Craig's son, one of John Millers mates at Weatherfords) one eveing for a couple of beers and a meal and he tells me where the best place is to shop for things in Singapore. I've wanted an Apple iphone for a while and know I can get one, pay-as-you-go, here in Singpaore. Cheers for that Kane.

Do the usual things in Singapore, bit of shopping, few beers, other touristy things and, of course, Singapore Slings in Raffles Hotel.

Very nice experience but don't feel an urgent need to do it again.

A new marina, Keppel Bay marina, is opening in Singapore on the 18th January and to ensure that it is a cermony worth remembering, the arrival of the Clipper fleet is choreographed to ensure we are all there. This is the reason why we raced to Nongsa point to ensure that we are all present to motor the few miles across the Singapore Strait and to all arrive together.

The three or so days we get in Nongsa are great. Friendly people, lovely climate (though a little hot :-), cool beer - what more can a man ask for :-). I spend one night on the boat and then two nights in the resort: air conditioning, fantastic.

The staff from the hotel take us out one night to a 'local' seafood restaurant. Chilli crab, black pepper crab, garlic shrimps, steamed sea bass, spiced noodles...the list goes on. I think it's the best seafood meal I've ever had: all for about £13 (including beer and transport) - superb!

We depart Nongsa and motor across to the opening of the Keppel Bay marina.

A huge turnout from the people of Singapore and good to see some [old :-)] friendly faces. Patsy's there to see Mikey, Mikey's folks have turned up. Andy Perry is there with Tony and, a great surprise for Will is his parents and granddad have flown out (he thought they were on holiday in Wales :-). Another great welcome, the best so far in my opinion.

We overtake New York and a re a couple of miles in front of them before we make the next gate off the west coast of Borneo. We round the mark, dropping the spinnaker and head up, NE, close-hauled best course towards the next gate. An hour or so later and the wind backs, allowing New York to gain a little ground on us and, come nightfall, we lose sight of them: as it turns out, they overtake us during the night and we don't see them until we arrive in Nongsa a couple of days later.

A great sail from the New York clipper, from a couple of mile sbehind, they manage to finish 30 miles in front of us by the time we arrive in Nongsa point. A great effort from all of the Liverpool crew but we are bitterly disappointed to have come second in a race that we led for most of and feel it was ours for the taking: somehow, we let it slip.Full credit to New York for the way they out-sailed us upwind and hard luck to the Western Australia boat who gave us a close scare towards the end.

Positions at the front remain the same as we exit the Sunda Strait, but New York have closed the gap on us.

As we gybe for position on the next gate, New York overtake us but Nova Scotia seem to be holding course and going for the near gate. I find that strange as race rules state that the committee will try and give 24-hours notice for calling a halt to the race, we're very close to the next gate and there is no way that the race will be called off.

Liverpool and New York gybe for the next mark (to the East) and Nova Scotia carry on on port gybe and continue North for the north part of the gate that is only a short distance away.
(Later that afternoon, Nova Scotia sailed into a 'wind hole', we didn't see them until they arrived in Nongsa, in 8th place - unlucky guys, could happen to anyone).

A few days into the race and we hold first position and sailing towards [what was] tropical cyclone Melanie, but the weather forecast shows that by the time we get there it'll be a good breeze for us.

Unfortunately, this doesn't quite materialise a splanned (does it ever :-) but we are still in the lead as we get a hundred or so miles south east of Christmas Island. Then...

No wind!

Trying hard to progress in veyr light airs, it's on with the constant jobs on the boat, including the cleaning

and everyones favourite:

Once we get the wind again, we find we've dropped into third place with Nova Scotia and New York a few miles in front. Durban are close behind us and the 12 mile lead we had is now in shreds.

We manage to gain ground on New York, overtaking them before we get to the Sunda Strait (between Java and Sumatra. On the previous Clipper Race (05-06) the race was called off here due to no wind. As a result, for this race, the race committee have placed a series of waypoints signifying gates. If the race is called off for any reason, your position in relation to the 'next' or 'last' gate will determine your finishing position. Consequently, though the race is to Nongsa, you have to ensure you have a good position at each gate.

Coming to the first gate (SW end of the Sunda Strait) we find we are 3 miles behind Nova Scotia and only a few miles in front of New York. Rob and his crew are managing to hold us off but we're finding it hard to make mileage on them with so many fishing boats about.

As we progress ever nearer to the equator, the temperature increases and below decks is getting very uncomfortable:

After a 'relaxing' Christmas and New Year in Fremantle it's time to head off again on Leg 4 of the race to Singapore (via Nongsa in Indonesia).

Janaury 1st sees Patsy Mills, Alex, Mat, Sean and Traoloch no longer with us, but joining us we have Richy Pope, Anna off of 'Uniquely Singapore' and Doris; welcome to all three.

A great turning out of friends, family and the general public to see us off in Fremantle harbour as the Clipper fleet line up and parade up the Swan River pre-start.

3 o'clock and the cannon goes for the race start. All 10 yachts bidding for contention as we sail up the Swan River before turning around and racing past the gathered crowd. Durban have the best position but on Liverpool we are to far to leeward and, as we race East into the river, have to tack as we're getting blown onto a moored ship. This see's us lose a couple of places and, as we gybe around the mark, we sail (very slowly due to the loss of wind :-) past the dignatories, bringing up the back of the fleet: not a good start for anyone, but last place for Liverpool'08, unthinkable!

By the time we have rounded the 'last' mark, 8 miles further on we have managed to claw our way back into third place and run with spinnaker north bidding Australia farewell and next stop Indonesia.