Dee Caffari has found herself stuck in a wind hole and is so desperate to get moving that all she has resorted to requesting some wind straight from Lapland!
Dee Caffari has found herself stuck in a wind hole and is so desperate to get moving that all she has resorted to requesting some wind straight from Lapland! The conditions in the Transat Ecover B to B have challenged Caffari throughout the race, ranging from ferocious upwind sailing to mill-pond drifting. The race has given Caffari the opportunity to experience so many different scenarios in Open 60 racing that this will be a valuable lesson in her build up to the 2008/9 Vendée Globe.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received at 12.18am UTC on 11 December:
"It may seem that I am never satisfied. One minute I am complaining at how much wind there is and then I am complaining how little there is. Today the conditions took a turn again and probably ranks up there as the most frustrating day I have ever had and it is still continuing.
"At about 6am this morning I sailed straight into a wind hole. Literally I went from 8 knots of wind to nothing. All around there was a ring of cloud and above Aviva there was nothing but clear sky. The instruments read between one and three knots of wind for over six hours before Aviva and I got moving again. It was painful as it coincided with the position reports, which clearly told me that this hole of wind was personal to me and that everyone else had sailed straight by. I was gutted. It is so easy to lose miles in this game and so difficult to claim them back.
"The next position report illustrated that some of the closer boats had slowed, much to my relief. I had visions of not even getting finished in time for the Vendée Globe race despite qualifying for it!
"Unfortunately I have been plagued by light airs all day, interspersed with a little breeze from a consistent direction. Every time that happens I am pleased because I think I can get my head down for a sleep, then all the wind dies again. So I am also very tired now as well. This is going to be the most difficult 1,600 miles to the finish, as is often the case. So please please Santa send me some wind!"
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.
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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 1,500 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.