Happy with her progress, happy the sun has come out and buoyed by a unique set of natural wildlife pictures - of her shore crew!
Happy with her progress, happy the sun has come out and buoyed by a unique set of natural wildlife pictures - of her shore crew!
On the sixth day of racing in her first Vendée Globe, Dee Caffari is wondering if top level ocean racing gets any better than this after she discovered, scattered around her Open 60 Aviva, pictures of her team that were guaranteed to keep her amused.
"I couldn't stop laughing. The boys had left photos of themselves naked in areas of the boat that they had been working on so when I was in the aft department bailing out some water and looking at the steering gear, I turned round and there was Craig (Thompson) on the transom with strategically placed pots of resin.
"There was one of Martin (Piquet) coiling a line in the sail locker and one of Joff further forward. I haven't found Rob (Sleep) yet but that is something to look forward to. I have seen a side to all the boys that I'd not seen before. They are certainly not shy."
Away from the "Calendar Boys", Dee has welcomed the arrival of the sunshine.
"If the sea state calmed down a bit it would be really pleasant sailing," she said.
"There is a massive swell that is controlling everything. Aviva just wants to surf. If you have a lot of sail up and a squall comes along, you wipe out. I have been on my ear a few times which was why I reduced the sail.
"I found yesterday very hard because I didn't really get in tune with the boat. The conditions were squally, the wind was shifting and I couldn't get it going so I ended up putting a reef in and having less sail up.
"I'm having more success now though I can't seem to get the speeds that the others are getting. Hopefully when the weather becomes a bit more consistent, I will get more confident.
"It didn't surprise me that Brian Thompson overtook me yesterday. The fact that I'm in with this pack at all is awesome. It makes me smile every time I see the positions come in - just being in the same bit of the chart as them is really cool."
After enjoying a cup of tea and a chinwag with Sam Davies yesterday, Dee is looking forward to another girlie natter over the next few days.
"She went off west so I reckon we will probably meet up again. We had a real laugh. I'm not sure the boys would get on the radio and talk about soft porn and hair washing when they are in sight of each other - it's something that only girls do."
The retirement of fellow Brit Alex Thomson filled Dee with sadness, she said, because she knew how hard he and his team had worked to get to the start.
"To have gone through everything they did to get to the start line and having worked so hard, it would have been heartbreaking for Alex to go back in. I really feel for them all.
"He now has to wait another four years - it's really sad. But there is so much more to him than a pile of carbon fibre. He did so well in the Barcelona Race that he really wanted to go out and show everyone what he'd learned. He now has another four years to do more and everyone should be very worried about Alex for the Vendée in 2012."
The 10am ranking showed that Caffari was in 14th place, 197 miles behind race leader Loïck Peyron on Gitana Eighty.
Aviva Ocean Racing summary
Record-breaking British yachtswoman Dee Caffari, who sailed into the record books in May 2006 by becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world against the prevailing winds and currents, is attempt her next ‘world first' by competing in the Vendée Globe yacht race. Caffari is attempting to become the first woman to sail solo and non-stop both ways around 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 and interview requests contact:
Caroline Ayling
Mobile: +44 (0) 7801 351950
E-mail: caroline.ayling@synergy-sponsorship.com
Kelly Russell
Mobile: +44 (0)7786 516570
E-mail: Kelly.russell@synergy-sponsorship.com
Website: www.avivaoceanracing.com
Images: www.avivaoceanracing.com/images
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