When the most exciting thing in 72 hours is retrieving a buoy you know it is slow going on the Spirit of Bermuda.

With approximately 600 miles left the ship has been stuck in a high pressure system for several days. Contrary to what the name implies, this means there is little to no wind.

They have spent hours inching along at 0.5 knots and cheer with excitement when the ship reaches four knots.

They also set a new record, covering 86 nautical miles in 24 hours, the slowest recorded day ever.

At times this causes chafe, not on the ship's rig, but on the crew's soul.

But everyone's learning to work together, give one another space when needed and above all else laugh at yourself.

The crew has also realised that it is just as important to be diligent in light winds as it is in heavy winds. After all this is still a race. Despite the slow going the ship has actually moved into third place in the corrected time category thanks to everyone concentrating and working hard. It remains in second place across the water.

As Captain Simon Colley has told the crew, it is important to note that the whole fleet is going nowhere fast but the Spirit is going somewhere faster.

Compared to others in the fleet the Spirit is making the most of its light winds.

The French Navy Tall Ship Etoile, has pulled out of the race due to a lack of wind and damage to the ship. At two p.m. yesterday there were four ships more than 600 nautical miles behind the Spirit.

With these conditions in mind it should come as no surprise to anyone who has been on the ocean before that the crew is starting to grow restless. Movie nights have been organised, new deck projects have been started and they have been tasked with creating a orientation manual for new trainees starting after Bermuda.

But the highlight of the last 72 hours came at 5 p.m. on Sunday when Calum Morrison, 18, spotted a UFO — unidentified floating object — off the starboard bow.

The crew jumped into action and decided to launch the small dingy boat and two people should be sent to investigate.

Five minutes later First Officer Johnny O'Keeffe and watch leader Lawson Williams radioed back to say they had identified the object, it was a large orange buoy. Needless to say the crew is asking everyone in Bermuda to pray for some heavier breeze so the ship can come home.

As of five p.m. yesterday the ship had 674 miles to go.

Royal Gazette reporter Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch is aboard the Spirit as a watch leader and will continue to file regular reports from the ship.

Spirit of Bermuda captain's log

Spirit's position at 1400 UTC: Sunday May 31st.

30º26'N x 51º19''W

COG 310ºT

SOG 2.8 knots

Force 2 NxE'ly, slight sea, sunny and hot. almost clear sky occasional Altocumulus.

Barometer 1020.8mb and steady.

Under full sail on a close reach.

Daily run since 1400 yesterday 81 NM as the crow flies.

1830 NM from Santa Cruz de Tenerife

690 NM from St. David's Light, Bermuda

Continuing to inch Spirit closer to home, using the available wind as best we can and somehow staying competitive. Discipline and morale remain high, despite the searing heat and repetitiveness of our recent days.

All watches are collaborating on creating a new orientation manual for oncoming crew.

Our current trainees have more experience sailing Spirit offshore than any past crew and their combined perspectives and insights are invaluable.

They have become the perfect team for this race.