Dee Caffari and her Open 60 yacht Aviva remain becalmed in the Atlantic Ocean. Caffari is currently in 12th position and becoming increasingly frustrated by the windless weather conditions.
Dee Caffari and her Open 60 yacht Aviva remain becalmed in the Atlantic Ocean. Caffari is currently in 12th position and becoming increasingly frustrated by the windless weather conditions. Despite the fleet front-runners nearing the finish line, the back of the Transat Ecover B to B pack has been plagued by light winds. Caffari is currently 50 miles to the west of Derek Hatfield and will have Spirit of Canada in her sights as the 24 hour forecast suggest the wind will slowly build.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received at 11.01pm UTC on 12 December 2007:
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"I'm lost for words, devoid of emotion and hang my head in utter disbelief that this area of the Atlantic can be so calm. The infamous smile was gone and replaced with tears of despair today.
"The sun shone, the sea was blue and like a mirror. Not even a zephyr to be seen on the surface and Aviva floated going nowhere all day and now, all night. I am without boat speed, without wind, without forward momentum and without steerage. I haven't got any new ideas on how to make us move and am coming close to being losing my personality.
"When everyone is in the same conditions you can deal with it better as you know you are not alone, but I cannot believe that the others are suffering like this tonight and I am now dreading the deficit in miles that will be shown in the morning's polling. Things can only get better for Aviva and me."
Dee
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.
-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
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.