Dee Caffari fears her Christmas will be spent wallowing in the North Atlantic after she sailed into a wind hole with little immediate prospect of an exit. This morning, Dee reported from onboard Aviva that she is exasperated by the run of bad luck that has blighted her first solo passage on her Open 60.
Dee Caffari fears her Christmas will be spent wallowing in the North Atlantic after she sailed into a wind hole with little immediate prospect of an exit. This morning, Dee reported from onboard Aviva that she is exasperated by the run of bad luck that has blighted her first solo passage on her Open 60 and says she may have to revise her plans of spending Christmas toasting muffins in front of a log fire.
"Since six o'clock this morning I have gone absolutely nowhere. Everyone else seems to have seen it and sailed round it but Avivaand I are stuck in it. All the grib files tell me I should be having six knots of breeze but I have seen no more than three and I am really fed up. I hate going nowhere.
"I have 1,600 miles to go and I'm not even sailing in the right direction so I am thinking it could be weeks before I get home. Forget Christmas - I shall be lucky if I'm there for New Year," said Dee, laughing and in good spirits.
"I'm supposed to be qualifying for the Vendée Globe but at this rate, I'll be lucky to be back in time for the start of the Vendée! It's ridiculous - and I'm not good at being patient. I want wind and I want it now! Bloody Canary Islands, I'm never coming here on holiday again."
While she waits for the breeze to kick in, Dee, lying in 12th place and at the last position report travelling at speeds of a little over one knot, has spent the weekend repairing a damaged mainsail and attending to other "household" matters. These included making a concerted effort to restore a more disciplined approach to eating and drinking.
"I noticed there was a direct correlation between how I was feeling and how much I was eating and sleeping. When I don't eat and there is a problem, I get very emotional so I'm making sure I eat properly and take plenty of fluids. And I'm fine now."
Having looked at the progress of the front runners who are racing along at 14 knots, Dee is hopeful that conditions will be favourable as she pushes north but the news that Mike Golding has been forced to retire with engine and electrical failures, was met with sadness on Aviva.
"I think it is a real shame that Mike and Ecoverhave had to retire but I can understand why he took the decision. It would be awful to have oil everywhere. Trying to sail when things are not working is unnecessary stress - he would not be able to sail her properly and is anxious to get in and sort all the problems out so it is a sensible decision but a shame nonetheless."
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 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.