Skipper's log: Michael Ferguson (Ireland), co-skipper, Ariel II (IMOCA)

Mikey here,  Not the TJV I was hoping for. After a great start on Sunday we fell victim to the Mainsail starting to fall apart on night 1. reef went in off Guernsey and that put a small hole in the panel above reef 3. We made sure we would safely get out the channel under canvased which we did and entered Biscay. Once the wind went forward the mainsail started to fall to pieces in front of us. Theres no chance to fix a delaminated mainsail! 2 days upwind later we showed the world a picture of our mainsail. To say we are gutted is an understatement but we are fighting! It would be very easy to just pull in and quit now but we will monitor the sail condition 24/7 and keep reef 2 in until we can go VMG downwind. We will make a final decision just before we get to the Canaries as we dont want to take any unnecessary risks crossing an ocean ´wounded`. As I say its not the TJV I wanted but hey.... not many people get to race these beasts at all so I´m making the most of every minute I get that chance to do so!