The daily bombshells that are raining down on the Vendée Globe fleet over the fortunes of its skippers are having a profound effect on Dee Caffari's mindset as survival takes centre stage in her race strategy.
The daily bombshells that are raining down on the Vendée Globe fleet over the fortunes of its skippers are having a profound effect on Dee Caffari's mindset as survival takes centre stage in her race strategy.
Yesterday's news concerning Yann Elies' (Generali) broken thigh bone which came hard on the heels of Mike Golding's dismasting forced the record breaking yachtswoman, who is lying in 12th place on Aviva, into "what if" mode.
"When the news came through yesterday my immediate thought was ‘oh no not another one.' It makes me focus on survival. I just need to survive," said Dee sounding stoic but cheerful.
"My biggest fear is illness or injury and Yann's thigh bone break is one of the most extreme types of injury you can get. I can't imagine how he must be feeling or what the hell he is going to do.
"If that happened to me, I would have similar problems in reaching for the painkillers in the medical kit. These kits are heavy and they have to go somewhere - you can't just leave them lying around. Mine is stacked on the shelf but it is not easy to get to. He is not even mobile enough to get a bag of stuff together for when he is lifted off. So that started me thinking about what stuff I would take if I had to be lifted off like that.
"And what happens to the boat? It is a perfectly good boat - nothing wrong with it but it's not like you can drop someone off on board and ask them to sail it back for you. And he's not going to be able to get back out there and sail it back because he's going to be in hospital for a while.
"Everyone else has had a trauma or a problem that is manageable but to have an injury like that is heartbreaking. He has no option but to get off the boat and that is the most difficult thing of all."
Dee admitted that every time she hears about the latest gear failure, she is compelled to undergo rigorous checks on Aviva.
"When Dominic Wavre's keel went on Temenos, I must have shone the torch in my keel box three times a day. When I heard Bernard Stamm's (Cheminées Poujoulat) news, I was checking my steering twice a day and after hearing Mike's news I am now checking my rig every time I go on deck. It is exhausting.
"Last night I was doing a sail change and was right up at the front when I suddenly thought this is exactly where Yann injured himself so I sat down and started crawling around. I'm not sure I can take much more bad news like this."
Each skipper would have their own response to the high attrition rate, Dee added but hers was most definitely to ease off.
"In a Formula One Grand Prix, the cars are pushed to their extreme and they either make it to the finish or they blow up. This is like the F1 event of the oceans and it is exactly the same I guess. You look at Foncia's speed and he has not backed off at all despite all the traumas, whereas my reaction is to ease off and concentrate on survival. We all have a different response which I suppose makes it interesting."
Aviva has just emerged from a "horrendous" few days which has subjected her skipper to hours on end of 50 knot winds and big rolling seas forcing her to contemplate putting in a fourth reef.
"It was horrible. I was thinking ‘OK I'm not really enjoying this any more'. I could see the numbers going up and up and up and I was thinking do I hang on to this sail plan or should I reduce sails. It has reduced now and I am in a very nice breeze so I'm hoping it will last a couple of days because I need a break."
The 10am race rankings placed Dee Caffari 12th in the Vendée Globe fleet, 50 miles ahead of Arnaud Boissières on Akena Vérandas.
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.
-ends-
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
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 2007.
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 £359 billion at 30 June 2008.
The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.
For broadcast-standard video, please visit our video section.