Today, Dee Caffari crossed into the Southern Hemisphere again exactly two years after the inspirational British yachtswoman embarked on her record-breaking solo voyage, the Aviva Challenge. Caffari departed Portsmouth on 20 November 2005 and 178 days later became the first woman to sail solo around the world against the prevailing winds and currents.
Today, Dee Caffari crossed into the Southern Hemisphere again exactly two years after the inspirational British yachtswoman embarked on her record-breaking solo voyage, the Aviva Challenge. Caffari departed Portsmouth on 20 November 2005 and 178 days later became the first woman to sail solo around the world against the prevailing winds and currents. Not content with one world first, Caffari's next goal is to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world in both directions by racing in the Vendée Globe 2008/9.
Caffari is currently competing in her third Open 60 race, the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV), onboard her yacht Aviva. The race is part of her training programme to guide Caffari through the transition from a schoolteacher with a huge sense of adventure to an elite Open 60 competitor.
During the Aviva Challenge, Caffari battled against the wind and prevailing currents in a 38-tonne steel yacht reaching an average speed of only 6.5 knots. She is now expanding her comfort zone as she regularly experiences bursts of speed over 20 knots in her carbon-fibre racing machine. The highly competitive environment of Open 60 racing has proven a new level of intensity for the yachtswoman. Caffari not only has to deal with extreme sleep deprivation, ever-changeable weather conditions but now has to keep an eye on her competitors and make difficult tactical decisions.
Caffari spoke from onboard Aviva in the mid Atlantic: "Just two years down the line I have exchanged my HGV Aviva for a Formula 1 model and joined the elite sailors of the IMOCA Open 60 class. My aim is to sail single-handed non-stop around the world once more, but this time I must remember to turn left at the bottom of the Atlantic! I'll be looking forward to sailing with the power of the wind and waves in the Southern Ocean rather than against them."
Later this month Caffari will compete in the single-handed Transat Ecover B to B, from Bahia, Brazil to Brittany, France. This will be the first time she has sailed solo since she stormed into the record books in May 2006.
She added today: "The TJV has given me the security of having someone to discuss decisions with and have an extra pair of hands to solve problems. Nigel [King, co-skipper] will be stepping ashore and leaving me to my own devices. It's up to me and me alone from then on. There is no one to hide behind as I enter the next stage of the Aviva Ocean Racing campaign in my quest for a record double first."
The Transat Jacques Vabre race is proving to be an important part of Caffari's Open 60 learning curve. She and co-skipper Nigel King are currently in 14th place battling for position against yachts of a similar generation to Aviva.
To follow Caffari's Aviva Ocean Racing campaign 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:
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
All skippers taking part in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 race signed the Transat Jacques Vabre Charter for Sustainable Development. The five main aims of the Charter are:
- Promote the values of sailing
- Reduce the ecological footprint of the Transat Jacques Vabre event
- Encourage everyone involved to commit towards creating a responsible event
- Encourage the public to engage with the challenges of sustainable development
- Develop the local dynamics and North-South relations.