TEAM RUSSIA EMAIL: 'It feels good to be able to race the other boats that close'

Team Russia - Andreas Hanakamp (Skipper)

All doubts about the "new route" must have been wiped out with the Cochin stopover. India and the city of Cochin have been a fantastic host to the fleet, people welcomed us with such a friendship and an enthusiasm.

Even though coming here was difficult for us in the end of leg 2 I wish to come back again.

We started this leg with two new faces on board, Scotty our rigger as second bowman as Oleg has left for St. Petersburg and Sergey as new media crew member. Both have been sailing with Kosatka extensively over the summer and know boat and the team well.

The first 15 hours in the race have been closer racing than ever before, this morning the fleet was summoned within sight of each other and at one stage at dawn we would have been able to talk directly to il mostro and Ericsson 3 at the same time. What a great race and it feels good to be able to race the other boats that close.

We are sailing the boat in light mode, having just taken the bare necessities on board. Everything we had the slightest doubt whether we will need it of not was left behind, I hope that pays off. Thanks to Nick and Ben for the great effort put in.

Received: 02:39 GMT