Tomorrow is the big day! Many thanks for all the interest that’s been shown around the world. I know there’s a fair few folk out there watching, so will update www.floppyflaps.com  when I can. Next update after this will be from Hobart.

Live news about the race and our progress can be seen on the official website http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/default.asp

As all boats now carry a GPS transmitter, you can also keep a real-time eye on our progress by using the yacht tracker on http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/yacht_tracker.asp. Our boat is Kioni, a Beneteau 47.7” Sail number 6146,  so add this one to your favourites to watch!

I’m all set at this end and today being xmas day, I’ve taken the opportunity to sleep in, have an afternoon nap and then doze for a a few hours too!! Lazy?…maybe…but I like to think of it as ‘stockpiling’ my sleep!   With the prospect of 4 hours on, 4 off in the day and 3 on, 3 off at night, I have no issues with getting as much extra sleep before then as I can.

This will be my last update before I go, but will endeavour to update with a brief summary, once I pop out of the other side and into Hobart. Tomorrow there will be a weather briefing at 8:30am so will be there for that. There is some particularly strange weather going on right now, so we need to assess what’s ahead.

The 628 nautical mile course is often described as the most gruelling long ocean race in the world, a challenge to everyone who takes part.

Bass Strait (nicknamed the 'paddock) has a dangerous personality. It can be dead calm or spectacularly grand. The water is relatively shallow and the winds can be strong, these two elements often coming to create a steep and difficult sea for yachts.

The third leg after the 'paddock' - down the east coast of Tasmania takes the fleet past coastal holiday resorts and fishing ports with towering mountains in the background. Approaching Tasman Island, the coastline comprises massive cliffs, sometimes shrouded in fog.

The winds are often fickle and can vary in strength and direction within a few miles. Sailing becomes very tactical.

After turning right at Tasman Island, sailors often think the race is near completed, but at this point there is still 40 miles of often hard sailing to go. Yachts can be left behind in the maze of currents and wind frustrations.

Even when they round the Iron Pot, a tiny island that was once a whaling station, there is still a further 11 miles up the broad reaches of the Derwent River to the finish line off Hobart's historic Battery Point, with Mount Wellington towering over the city.

No matter the time of day or night, the first yacht to finish receives an escort of official, spectator and media boats as it sails towards the finish line.

Hundreds of people crowd the foreshores of Sullivans Cove to cheer the yachts and their crews while volunteers from the finishing club, the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, meet the weary crews with open arms and famous Tasmanian hospitality, and escort them to their berth in the Kings Pier marina.
It's an event that Tasmanians love to host in the middle of Hobart's Taste of Tasmania Festival.

Then it's time to celebrate or commiserate, swap yarns about the race with other crews over a few beers in Hobart's famous waterfront pubs such as the Customs House Hotel or the Rolex Sydney Hobart Dockside Bar.