Caffari has taken a step back and become more philosophical about the losses and gains that will be constant throughout the 27,000 miles of the Vendée Globe round the world yacht race.
Caffari has taken a step back and become more philosophical about the losses and gains that will be constant throughout the 27,000 miles of the Vendée Globe round the world yacht race.
The messages of support from fans and followers (over 400 since the race started 11 days ago) along with encouragement from the Aviva Ocean Racing shore crew have helped Caffari galvanise her fighting spirit.
As a measure of her journey in solo sailing, today Caffari celebrates only the third anniversary of setting sail on the Aviva Challenge. Having never sailed solo before, the solo yachtswoman left Portsmouth on 20 November 2005 and has not looked back. She successfully became the first woman to sail solo and non-stop around the world the "wrong way" against the prevailing winds and currents. Now, she is aiming to make history again by becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop both ways around the world by completing the Vendée Globe.
As Caffari prepares to take Aviva through the notorious Doldrums, she lifted her spirits by turning on her trusty iPod, until now buried in a waterproof kit bag. With no-one around to hear she has been singing along to Mika and Nickelback.
The 10am race ranking showed that Caffari was in 16th place, 308 miles behind race leader Loïck Peyron.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received Tuesday 18 November, 8.50pm GMT:
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"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one," Elbert Hubbard.
"This was sent to me and how right it is. I am so aware of how visible every loss or gain is for everyone watching the race and my biggest fear is letting people down. So I have grasped today and am concentrating on sailing Aviva ever closer to the Pot au Noir as that is my next obstacle.
"Following that we can celebrate the Equator with Neptune. I will make mistakes and I have seen some already but the greatest fact of all is being out here to make them. My sponsor and team have given me a fantastic opportunity and I can't wait to put everything I learn from this voyage into the next races.
"Already my feeling for the boat grows and after a few thousand miles we will be pushing a greater pace I am sure. So we continue south Aviva and I with little hitches to the west hoping for a favourable crossing of the doldrums and looking at what those ahead are encountering at the same time.
"To celebrate my sailing south the iPod has finally been retrieved from the bottom of a kit bag and we have been cruising to Mika and Nickelback in style today."
Dee and Aviva
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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