Skipper's log: Miranda Merron (Britain), Campagne de France (IMOCA)

Moonlight bright enough to trim the sails without using a torch. After a quiet few hours, the wind is filling in again.

As there are only two of us on board, we don't run a fixed watch system at all. It depends on the conditions, whether there are tactical decisions to take or sails to change, things to repair
etc. If the weather is good, the off-watch person can get out of their foul weather gear and boots and into a sleeping bag. If conditions are difficult, the off-watch person stays fully dressed,
ready to leap into action. The aim is to not both be in desperate need of sleep at the same time.
Nor are there any fixed meal times. Food is mostly self-service. The freeze-dried meals are eaten straight out of the packet, so washing-up is limited to spoons. We make enough water for drinking
/ rehydrating meals and to wash ourselves. There is no laundry or shopping. No land e-mails or mobile phone. No internet. No toilet to clean - there isn't one.
We try to keep the interior of the boat clean, and the sea - and sometimes rain - does the rest.
So, while racing is often cold, wet, miserable, and at times dangerous and very frightening, on nights like tonight (millions of stars, warm breeze, not a soul on our patch of ocean), it's a huge
privilege.