Dee Caffari has 660 miles to go to the finish of the Artemis Transat and with little more than 50 miles separating the immediate group of boats near to Aviva the British solo skipper is facing some tough decisions over her strategy for the remainder of the race.
Dee Caffari has 660 miles to go to the finish of the Artemis Transat and with little more than 50 miles separating the immediate group of boats near to Aviva the British solo skipper is facing some tough decisions over her strategy for the remainder of the race.
Caffari is weighing up her options between making a charge for the finish line and focusing on getting to Boston in one piece. The record-breaking Brit, highly competitive by nature, is aware that the final run in to Boston will be mainly upwind and thoroughly draining.
Caffari reported from onboard Aviva this morning: "It's a hard decision because there is always a temptation to push the boat to close the gap and move in front but I have to sail the weather we have, keep the boat in one piece and get to the finish. The important thing is to play the weather right. It is a long upwind leg before we can tack and for a long part of the remaining miles, we will not be heading directly for Boston so it will be interesting to see what everyone does.
"I'm trying not to feel any pressure. My priority is to finish the race and qualify for the Vendée Globe.
"I could be putting all kinds of pressure on myself but that is not going to help when I'm so tired. I need to concentrate on Aviva and getting her to the finish line and not worry about everything else. That was what the Transat was all about for me though where I come in this group will be interesting."
Caffari is also doing her best not to let her mind drift towards the fluffy duvets and hot bubble baths that await her arrival in Boston. For the moment she says, she has to stay entirely focussed.
"Whenever I think about a hot bath in Boston or sleeping in a big hotel bed I get upset so I am trying not to do that. It is incredibly cold here so last night I was tempted to turn the heating on but I daren't do it because I am so tired and if everything heats up and becomes too comfortable, I might go to sleep for too long. It is easier to leave it just for a few more days because I don't want to do something silly now."
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received on 23 May:
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"The Gale force winds certainly kept me busy overnight as I went from great reaching all the way down the sail plan to three reefs. As the dawn broke we knew it would ease and there would be a tack. What I couldn't believe was that with fully reefed sails, full keel and ballast I entered yet another rain cloud with 28-32 knots of wind from the south, south west and came out the other side with just seven knots of wind from the north west. I tacked but had no sail up for the conditions and the huge lumpy sea was making everything so difficult. Eventually after some pain and cursing I had drained my ballast, made the tack and changed the sail plan. I was exhausted. Porridge was heartedly eaten.
"So, much of the rest of the day was spent in rain, I am sure I have webbed feet. My fingers have certainly developed the wrinkly skin of spending too long in a bath - oh how nice would that be! The wind swung to the east and we have had some downwind sailing conditions. The squalls and showers I kept passing through kept changing the wind direction and I knew when I needed to gybe. Impatience got the better of me after the polling stopped and when I saw the numbers I gybed. Soon after the wind direction returned to the original and no matter how hard I tried not to look at the wind instruments, I knew I had to gybe back. So that was two extra gybes that will have cost me miles again to the pack I am chasing. Again I shall have to see how many in the morning.
"My fingers are also crossed that the rain may stop just for a while would be nice."
Dee and Aviva
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For further information and interview requests contact:
Caroline Ayling
Mobile: +44 (0)7801 351950
E-mail: avivaoceanracing@googlemail.com or carolinea@karen-earl.co.uk
Kelly Russell
Mobile: +44 (0)7786 516570
E-mail: avivaoceanracing@googlemail.com or kellyr@karen-earl.co.uk
Notes to editors:
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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.