The wind conditions off the west coast of Africa have become more favourable for Dee Caffari and Nigel King onboard Aviva and they are making up lost ground on the boats ahead of them.
The wind conditions off the west coast of Africa have become more favourable for Dee Caffari and Nigel King onboard Aviva and they are making up lost ground on the boats ahead of them. After days of fickle winds the consistent breeze comes as a welcome respite for the pair.
Dee reported: "It was a much better day onboard Aviva today. At dawn we changed from the light-weight spinnaker to the Gennaker as we headed south on a reaching course. It was fast and easy sailing. The sun shone and everyone was relieved to be moving at a consistent pace for a change. By the end of the day we were running with the big yellow Aviva spinnaker. The polling showed we were slowly closing the miles to Akena Verandas in a southerly direction and we were also stopping Cervin EnR gaining on us from the north."
The Aviva co-skippers are now facing a tough tactical decision, on whether to follow the African coastline, as the fleet front-runners did 48 hours ago, or to head west towards the Cape Verde islands. As ever with these decisions there are risks and opportunities and so far predicting these has been tough for the whole fleet.
Dee explained: "All information points to more wind along the African coast but it is a big commitment to remain on the eastern track. The route ahead seems to favour the east of the Cape Verde Islands before heading west to find a point to cross the doldrums. I for one would do anything to avoid light winds again. Oh yes, there are lots of obstacles still to come so it will be a long 2,500 miles left to race."
The tactical decisions and the uncertainty of the conditions may not be the only thing causing Dee to tear her hair out. Perhaps taking the weight restrictions onboard these racing machines a step further than most, Dee confessed to leaving her hairbrush in France. She is now praying for some rain so she can at least give it a good wash en route to Brazil! A small insight into Dee's experience on board Aviva as she prepares to become the first woman to sail both ways round the world by competing in the Vendée Globe 2008/9!
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 http://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:
- 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.
Aviva plc
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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