Aviva Ocean Racing: Aviva polls her fastest 24 hours

Today Dee Caffari and Nigel King are thrilled to have polled their fastest 24 hours of the Transat Jacques Vabre. Aviva covered 324 miles in the 24 hours from noon on Tuesday 20 November to noon today (all times GMT). 

Dee commented: "We are absolutely over the moon with today's progress. It has been a tough race so it's great to still be competing to the best of our ability. Nigel and I will be pushing hard all the way to the finish line and it's great to close some miles on a few of our competitors."

The pair also congratulate Michel Desjoyeaux and Manu le Borgne onboard Foncia on winning the IMOCA class of the Transat Jacques Vabre. The winners crossed the finish line 17 days after departing Le Havre, a testament to the challenges this years race has thrown at the skippers. Whilst the majority of the boats in the race were new generation Open 60s, the light winds that plagued the start of the race and the difficult doldrum crossing has made this a tough and challenging race that finished well outside the 13 day record.

Dee spoke from onboard Aviva: "We're on the final straight with just 624 miles to go and send our congratulations to Michel and Manu onboard Foncia on their win. Crossing the line first in what was a close battle all the way for the leading pack must have been a great feeling for them."

As Dee and Nigel prepare for the home straight, she added: "We have opted for passing the Islands Fernando de Noronha to the east, whilst our race-rivals ahead are setting up to pass to the west. The forecast is to go light at the end of the week when we shall all be fighting along the coast for the final few miles, so it is not over yet!"

Dee is also delighted to see Mike Golding, her former mentor, cross the line in fifth place only 13 and a half hours behind the winners. Mike and Dee set up a technical alliance earlier this year with Ecover's sister-ship, the new Aviva, currently being completed in New Zealand.

Dee added: "We're so pleased for Mike, who despite a few teething problems has had a great race. The boat seemed to be very competitive and I can't wait to get our new boat out on the water in the New Year."

Dee and Nigel are currently in 14th position.

To follow Caffari and King's progress in the Transat Jacques Vabre race and to view Dee's video diary entries log on to www.avivaoceanracing.com.

To receive Dee's diary, via the RSS feed visit www.avivaoceanracing.com/rss.

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For further information contact:
Caroline Ayling
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7202 2840
Mobile: +44 (0)7801 351950
E-mail: carolinea@karen-earl.co.uk

Kelly Russell
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7202 2862
Mobile: 07786 516570
E-mail: kellyr@karen-earl.co.uk  

Notes to editors:

All skippers taking part in the 2007 race signed the Transat Jacques Vabre Charter for Sustainable Development. The five main aims of the Charter are:

1. Promote the values of sailing
2. Reduce the ecological footprint of the Transat Jacques Vabre event
3. Encourage everyone involved to commit towards creating a responsible event
4. Encourage the public to engage with the challenges of sustainable development
5. Develop the local dynamics and North-South relations

Aviva plc
Aviva is the leading provider of life and pensions to Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2006.

Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2006.

The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.

• Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at www.avivaoceanracing.com
• Further information on Nigel King can be found at www.nigelkingyachting.com