Dee Caffari is facing a number of problems with her Open 60 yacht Aviva including a tear to her mainsail. This has caused Dee to slow down as she now has to wait for lighter wind conditions before she can attempt any repairs. Despite the problems Dee now has less than 2,000 miles to go, a significant milestone in the 4,300-mile transatlantic race.
Dee Caffari is facing a number of problems with her Open 60 yacht Aviva including a tear to her mainsail. This has caused Dee to slow down as she now has to wait for lighter wind conditions before she can attempt any repairs. Despite the problems Dee now has less than 2,000 miles to go, a significant milestone in the 4,300-mile transatlantic race.
It is apparent that the majority of the fleet are experiencing problems or difficulties with their boats. The latest report from the Transat Ecover B to B race office states:
"Hardly any of our solo sailors are free from damage, to a greater or lesser extent: three days against the wind in choppy seas weigh heavy on the structures, the sails, the appendages, the rigs... and the sailors."
Designed for fast, downwind sailing the constant battle into-the-wind is proving extremely taxing for many of the solo skippers and their carbon fibre Open 60s. Several competitors, including Yann Eliès on Generali and Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty onboard Maisonneuve, have reported sail damage. The Aviva Ocean Racing team is particularly saddened to hear the news of Mike Golding's retirement from the race due to electrical problems but are glad that Mike is safe and in good health. Ecover III is the sister ship to the new Aviva currently being completed in New Zealandand Dee wishes Mike a safe passage through to the Canary Islands.
Deeis now concentrating on finishing the race and keeping Aviva in the best possible condition. She is determined to complete the race and qualify herself for the 2008/09 Vendée Globe.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received at 11.44pm UTC on 8 December:
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"Daylight checks left me feeling very frustrated today. I have a long tear in my mainsail and I need to fix it but need the weather to chill out a little. I have a number of checks to do before any more sail is hoisted as these last four days have seen Aviva and I go through some pretty big seas and a lot of water. The mainsail I was being so careful with as I had learnt my lesson on the Fastnet Race. I was emptying the water religiously and even had set it up so that most of it drained, but I had missed a thin line that has now chafed the sail. Bugger!
"I am hoping for some lighter conditions that will allow me to get some jobs done tomorrow. It will be good when this massive swell dissipates too. It is making life very uncomfortable. I have finally broken the 2000 miles to go barrier however I have a feeling that the high pressure may make us sail some extra distance yet before the finish. So I may be slower than usual before hoisting as the breeze drops during the next day as I need to fix and check things so I can get to the finish line. As I need to complete the race to qualify rather than risk not finishing."
Dee
AvivaOceanRacing 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 Brazilto Port-La-Forêt, Franceis 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 Europewith 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.