Hundreds of well-wishers lined the dockside in Portsmouth to bid Dee Caffari farewell and wish her a safe and successful journey as she set sail on her bid to achieve one of the last "firsts" in female yachting.
Hundreds of well-wishers lined the dockside in Portsmouth to bid Dee Caffari farewell and wish her a safe and successful journey as she set sail on her bid to achieve one of the last "firsts" in female yachting.
Dee aims to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, around the world against the prevailing winds and currents.
Two hundred Aviva guests had exclusive access to the pontoon to witness the traditional blessing of the boat and Dee, carried out by the Bishop of Portsmouth, Canon David Brindley.
"After all the sea trials and preparations, the moment is finally here and I can't wait to get going," said Dee.
"I know that the next few months will throw some difficult challenges at me, but I'm fully prepared for the test and would like to thank everyone involved for helping to make this possible. It has been a dream of mine to complete a solo circumnavigation and I'm really excited by what lies ahead."
There have so far been four successful voyages by men. The first was by Dee's mentor Sir Chay Blyth in 1971, and the last by Frenchman Jean Luc Van Den Heede, who completed the voyage in a record 122 days, 14 hours, three minutes and 49 seconds.
Sir Chay Blyth said: "I believe Dee has the right character to be successful in her mission to complete this circumnavigation. It takes a particular type of person to want to take on such a challenge and I know Dee will relish the various tests.
"She is sailing in a yacht that she knows very well, and has already completed the same route before, and is backed up by an excellent shore team who will provide her with plenty of support.
"I am as excited about this project as I was when I set out on my own voyage 34 years ago."
The World Sailing Records Council will monitor Dee's performance from the moment she passes across the official start line off Ushant, near north-west France.
You can follow her progress daily on the Aviva Challenge web site.