Dee Caffari, the record-breaking British yachtswoman, who started her first ever solo race, the Transat Ecover B to B, at 2pm UTC today has been forced to return to port in Salvador de Bahia after minor equipment failure.
Dee Caffari, the record-breaking British yachtswoman, who started her first ever solo race, the Transat Ecover B to B, at 2pm UTC today has been forced to return to port in Salvador de Bahia after minor equipment failure.
Shortly after crossing the start line the Gennaker furler on board Aviva malfunctioned. Caffari took the decision to turn back to port so that the Aviva Ocean Racing shore crew could make the necessary repairs. She is expecting to a fast turn around and to re-start the race at 5.30pm UTC.
More information to follow.
Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at www.avivaoceanracing.com.
To receive Dee's diary automatically, visit www.avivaoceanracing.com/rss to sign up for the RSS feed.
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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:
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.
2008/9 Vendée Globe qualification requires both the skipper and the boat entering the race to complete a solo qualification sail validated by the Vendée Globe race management of at least 1500 nautical miles, by 1 July 2008. The Transat Ecover B to B will qualify Dee and the current Aviva. However, she will be required to qualify the new Aviva that is currently under construction in Hakes Marine, New Zealand. She will be racing the new Aviva, sister ship to Mike Golding's new Ecover, in the 2008/9 Vendée Globe.