Dee Caffari is getting to grips racing her new Open 60 yacht Aviva as the Artemis Transat fleet leave the English Channel behind and hit the open ocean. The fleet experienced unexpected strong winds throughout the night which led Caffari to try different sail plans and tested her developing solo sailing skills.
- Caffari dealt with unexpected strong winds onboard new Aviva
- Solo skipper experienced second electrical power trip since the race start
Dee Caffari is getting to grips racing her new Open 60 yacht Aviva as the Artemis Transat fleet leave the English Channel behind and hit the open ocean. The fleet experienced unexpected strong winds throughout the night which led Caffari to try different sail plans and tested her developing solo sailing skills.
Whilst dealing with the strong winds Caffari's electrical power tripped for a second time since the race started. This has meant that she's been problem solving and rewiring as well as keeping Aviva powered up and on course. Joff Brown, Aviva's Boat Captain, is confident the problem can be resolved, and a permanent solution implemented, over the next few days as conditions become more favourable.
Caffari is using the 2,700 mile race as an opportunity to improve her skills, race strategy and confidence onboard Aviva. Solving an electrical issue is one of the many tasks that she will practise along the way to Boston.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received on 13 May:
To receive Dee's diary automatically, visit http://www.avivaoceanracing.com/rss to sign up for the RSS feed.
"I could hear the sound signals of the 200 metre plus ships but I could not see them. The fog during the early hours of Monday was spooky. Fortunately the visibility improved and soon the remaining haze was burned away leaving very pleasant sailing.
"In light downwind conditions I knew I just needed to keep the boat moving. The pilot was doing a much better job than me so I trimmed the sails and the pilot drove. This also allowed me to get some rest. I hadn't slept much during the first 24 hours as it was busy with shipping, light winds and fog.
"I have crossed the final gate on this side of the Atlantic. At lunchtime I passed the line of the Fastnet, now we head for the open ocean and all its surprises. I had a frustrated evening as I saw that I had lost miles all day. All that hard work from the start was already over. I think I lost miles because I stuck to the wrong sail plan. So now I have a lot of work to do.'
Dee and Aviva
Team Update from Joff Brown, Aviva Ocean Racing Boat Captain:
"Since the start Dee has had all the electrical power on the boat turn off twice without any warning. This means going from a lit boat, with autopilot driving and a wealth of information at Dee's finger tips to complete darkness.
"We've had this problem once before on the solo test sail from Portugal to Plymouth but thought we had it sorted. It's a fairly easy fix each time and something akin to the power tripping in a house and having to flick the breaker switch to turn it all back on. So whilst this doesn't seem like too big a problem, I think for the last 28hrs Dee has been unable to anticipate when the power trip out will occur. Therefore naturally, she's been holding back on the sail front and not pushing as hard as she would like.
"However, we've been working to resolve the problem this morning and I spoke to Dee at 1130hrs and she's managed to bypass a couple of systems that were causing the problem by carrying out some rewiring. Hopefully Dee can now get a bit of a charge on and get some miles back.'
-ends-
Aviva Ocean Racing Summary
In May 2006 Dee Caffari set a world record by becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world against the prevailing winds and currents. The inspirational yachtswoman's next ambition is to complete the Vendée Globe 2008/09 and become the first woman to sail solo non-stop around the world in both directions.
Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at www.avivaoceanracing.com
For further information and interview requests contact:
Caroline Ayling, Mbl: +44 (0)7801 351950, Tel: +44 (0)20 7202 2840,
email: carolinea@karen-earl.co.uk
Kelly Russell, Mbl +44 (0)7786 516570, Tel: +44 (0)20 7202 2862,
email: kellyr@karen-earl.co.uk
For images log on to:
www.avivaoceanracing.com/images
Notes to editors:
- 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 £49.2 billion and funds under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2007.
- The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.