Time: 14:12 GMT
Position: 36º 39.425 N x 67º 48.880 W
Course: 144° true
Wind Speed: 17 kts
Speed: 8.3 kts

10:30 ET
“We have had a bouncy night. We’ve been coming down the Gulf Stream. There’s a meander that’s been heading north to south. We’ve been in it for a long time, and it’s been giving us a push of 4 to 5 knots. But the wind has been against the current, which has made for very, very steep seas. And it’s been, difficult to move around the boat.

But we decided to take the plunge and go for it and it’s been really beneficial. We have been flying sometimes up to 15 knots when our boat speed was at times only up to ten. So it’s been a good push. We’re now coming out the other end. Things are calming down. It’s time to get cleaned up and rested.”

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Not only is Phil an accomplished sailor, he is also an internationally recognized neuroscientist. Research and data analysis are a focus for his day job, so it is only natural that he would apply these skills to racing.

Starting in mid-April, Phil tracked the patterns of the Gulf Stream to better understand its potential for either hindering or helping their progress on the way to Bermuda. The currents can either push the boat along or work against you. Based on the data, he planned an entry point into the “Stream” to ride the current as long as possible – and even tried to predict the location of the eddies within the Stream.

Phil and Alex aren’t watching the race tracker, but we’re excited on shore to see their progress up the standings. Many more miles to sail and not much time difference between the competition – keep pushing guys!