Dee Caffari was expecting the worse from her seventh visit to the Doldrums but as the Vendee Globe leaders make their exits, she and Aviva are matching their speeds and relishing the ride.
Dee Caffari was expecting the worse from her seventh visit to the Doldrums but as the Vendee Globe leaders make their exits, she and Aviva are matching their speeds and relishing the ride.
"I am moving along at 11 knots. It's weird," she said.
"I was expecting to have stopped by now but I'm cashing in while I can. All I have seen are a couple of small black clouds and a little rain but so far nothing to wash the deck with.
"It looks quite clear ahead though I'm sure it will come and get us at some point.
"I'm really happy with my progress. I've had three days of making good progress - keeping pace with the guys I'm with and closing the gap with the guys ahead. It is hard work because you are watching the position reports constantly. You have to keep pushing all the time so you don't put off sail changes and do them later. You do them right now.
"The next three days until we come out the other side, you just have to keep your fingers crossed for what you have and use it where you can."
As the fleet tackles their 12th day at sea, Dee is currently lying in 15th place and with each passing day, she says, comes a greater understanding of her boat and another lesson learned.
"Every day I am finding out more about the boat and gaining confidence. I understand all her creaking and groaning which is great because it means I can concentrate on race tactics and strategy which is like a whole new world for me."
Her fear of "what if" has made her reluctant to use her spinnaker when sailing solo in previous races but in the Vendee Globe, having had some instruction from Tanguy Leglatin, her confidence is sky high and her speeds all the better for it.
"It's been really good on this trip. With a spinnaker, if it goes wrong it goes really wrong. You just can't keep winding and it disappears. It is a massive piece of cloth that is difficult to control. But in this race, when the conditions have called for a spinnaker I have put one up without even thinking about it which has been really cool.
"It is boiling. The sea temperature is 29 degrees and the air temperature is mid thirties both during the night and day. Doing anything in the black carbon boat is like a sweaty oven. Even a bucket of water over your head is quite warm at the moment but it is never too warm. I would much rather be too hot than too cold and it won't be long before it gets too cold so I'm not complaining."
In between sail changes, she is working her way through a checklist of jobs given to her by Joff.
"While the waters are flat and the conditions easier, I am working my way through the list to do the checks so that if there is a problem I can sort it out. It's a bit of a sweatbox down there though.
"There's no sitting around getting a sun tan that's for sure. It's quite hard to eat because it's so hot...you don't really want to eat a meal because of the heat. The only meal I eat at the same time I would at home is breakfast. The rest of the time I eat when I'm hungry.....but when I'm not hungry I have to keep an eye on my watch. I have no idea if I'm losing weight - I will find out when I get back.
"So there's not a lot happening on this boat. Just sailing, sleeping and eating. It's quite nice at the moment."
The 10am race ranking showed that Caffari was in 15th place, 262 miles behind race leader Loïck Peyron.
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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