This weekend saw one of the Southern Ocean's notorious storms hit the Vendée Globe fleet. Whilst Bernard Stamm (CP) and Dominic Wavre (Tene) were forced to head for the Kerguelen Islands with damage to their boats, Dee Caffari on Aviva battled through the first Southern Ocean low and is now battening down the hatches as she prepares herself and the boat for the second "monster" storm.
This weekend saw one of the Southern Ocean's notorious storms hit the Vendée Globe fleet. Whilst Bernard Stamm (CP) and Dominic Wavre (Tene) were forced to head for the Kerguelen Islands with damage to their boats, Dee Caffari on Aviva battled through the first Southern Ocean low and is now battening down the hatches as she prepares herself and the boat for the second "monster" storm.
Harry Spedding, Aviva Ocean Racing campaign manager said this morning: "Dee was certainly shaken by the ferocity of the first low but she's quite happy with her progress. In terms of sailing she's making good ground towards Cape Leeuwin but it's a real learning curve in downwind Open 60 racing for her at the moment. I think it helps having Akena hot on her heels as she seems to be really enjoying the race between the two of them."
Caffari, who has chosen to take the northern route around the Kerguelen Islands, is 41 miles ahead of her longstanding race rival Arnaud Boissieres onboard Akena Verandas with whom she has been locked in battle since the early stages of the race. Aviva is positioned 13th of the remaining 23 boats in the fleet.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received on Sunday 14 December at 4pm GMT:
"It is just starting to get dark now and I am sailing in 40 knots of wind still. I say still because at 11pm last night, which is in fact dawn here the depression caught up with me and I saw 55 knots of wind as the front passed over me. It was scary conditions, strong wind, big seas and the boat travelling ever so fast. Aviva handled it well and it was me that was a bundle of nerves sat, tense, waiting, holding on.
"If you had taken me from the boat back to land I probably would have been a little shell shocked, sat in the corner, rocking gently and muttering under my breath. But now I have overcome one monster and I have another night of strong winds to go before a brief respite and then another monster appears, hurtling me towards the next great cape of Cape Leeuwin in Australia.
"Just in case Aviva didn't think I had been through enough she let me know who was boss by throwing oil around in the generator space, which was messy to clear up.
"Now the big decision today has been north or south of the Kerguelen Islands.
"It seems to be that when there is land on the course it draws Aviva like a magnet. The plan was to go south but the wind was not allowing that to happen and when I ran the routing to the north, I lost no time and was better placed for the next monster so north it has become."
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 http://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: http://www.avivaoceanracing.com/
Images: www.avivaoceanracing.com/images
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