Dee Caffari has had a testing second day at sea with difficult decisions to make. After recovering well from her restart nearly four hours behind the fleet, Caffari had got back in touch with the similar generation boats in the race.
Dee Caffari has had a testing second day at sea with difficult decisions to make. After recovering well from her restart nearly four hours behind the fleet, Caffari had got back in touch with the similar generation boats in the race. Unfortunately important data on the other boats headings did not reach Caffari yesterday and so she felt she needed to tack to avoid Recife on the coast of Brazil.
The decision went against Aviva as the wind moved favourably for the fleet and did not require the other boats to tack. The extra distance covered has cost Caffari a few miles on her rivals but she is determined to claw them back as the wind freshens from the east. In addition to the difficult tactical decision, the wind direction and strength required Caffari to use her now infamous gennaker. This is the sail that caused the damage to the mast in the Transat Jacques Vabre and had the malfunction at the start of this race. Despite the challenges, Caffari is in good spirits and is as determined as ever.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received 8.16pm UTC 1 December:
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"Wallowing alone at the back of the fleet wasn't just bruising my ego but making me feel completely out of place. Am I a fool to think that I can step up to this elite arena and sail with the best sailors in the world?
"The wind was dying and heading me. I was sailing towards the beach and there was no way I was going to clear Recife. I had not received the midday position report so I could not look ahead and see if the others were sailing on a lifted breeze. The decision was going to be mine so I elected to tack and sail away from the coast a little. That way the breeze might fill in a little more and I could avoid the local fisherman that had sprung up from nowhere. This tack lasted two hours and I think will have cost me some miles again!
"Feeling sorry for myself was not going to help and then I realized that it was my confidence that had been knocked sideways. Once addressed, today has been the day of small steps to start to rebuild my confidence. The wind did lift me and now I am faced with a light airs reach but that means I had to use the Gennaker, last seen when we dropped it from a damaged mast and also the furler, that had broken at the start line. These were two huge steps to take. I didn't rush them because as much as I wanted to take them I also secretly hoped the wind would change so I didn't have to make the change. I am now reaching with a Gennaker and hopefully making up for the deficit that was made today. I may be down but I am definitely not out!"
Dee
-ends-
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
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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.
Aviva Ocean Racing Summary
After setting a world record last year sailing around the world against the prevailing winds and current, Dee Caffari's next ambition is to compete in the 2008/9 Vendée Globe and become the first woman to sail around the world, solo, in both directions.
Transat Ecover B to B
The 4,300-mile single-handed Transat Ecover B to B from Salvador de Bahia in Brazil to Port-La-Forêt, France is most important milestone of the Aviva Ocean Racing campaign to date. The race will be the first time that Caffari has raced solo and is the first time she'll be alone at sea since completing her record making round the world voyage. Despite being one of the least experienced Open 60 Skippers in the fleet, Caffari is determined to prove she can compete alongside some of the best sailors in the world.
Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at www.avivaoceanracing.com.