On Sunday 3 June 2007, Dee Caffari, the British woman who in May last year set the sailing world alight by achieving a "world first" for solo circumnavigating the "wrong way" around the world will embark on the first step in her next quest.
On Sunday 3 June 2007, Dee Caffari, the British woman who in May last year set the sailing world alight by achieving a "world first" for solo circumnavigating the "wrong way" around the world will embark on the first step in her next quest. In taking her position on the start line of the Calais Round Britain race, Caffari will officially be joining the ranks of an elite class of ocean racing professionals participating on the IMOCA Open 60 circuit and is out to prove she is fast as well as tough.
Her entry into this race represents Caffari's first big test. Her strategy is to use this and a series of other races to hone her skills in Open 60 racing, building up to taking part next year in sailing's elite solo race, the Vendée Globe.
Dee Caffari said: "I'm both excited and nervous ahead of my first Open 60 race onboard Aviva. The boats are so fast and intense, with the race only a week long it's going to be action packed all the way round. With help from my crew I will be learning what it is like to sail these boats at speed and fully powered up. I am sure it will be a very competitive race."
Setting her world "first" last year Caffari showed skill, determination, endurance and resourcefulness battling up-wind against the elements for over 178 days. These qualities will hold her in good stead but she will also need to master the highly technical skills needed to succeed in the complex Open 60 class. From now on she will be pitted head-to-head against world-class skippers who have years of ocean racing behind them. Caffari will be experiencing the intensity of this demanding class for the first time racing around the coastline of Britain and Ireland.
Starting and finishing in Calais, the race is 1850 nautical miles around the British coastline featuring some of the world's most technical waters with ever-changing weather conditions, tidal flows and adverse land effects. Extra vigilance is needed to keep a watchful eye out for shipping and other obstructions such as oil rigs in the North Sea, throughout this race.
There are 11 confirmed entries and the front runners are expected to take between six to seven days to complete the course. In a change from normal Open 60 racing the boats will be crewed by five people rather than solo or double-handed.
For this race Caffari's full crew will be:
- Dee Caffari - British, skipper of Aviva
- Nigel King - British, experienced yacht racing coach
- Liz Wardley - Papua New Guinea, professional sailor on Figaro circuit
- Simon Clarke - British, professional sailor and former boat captain of Hugo Boss
- Laurent Mahy - Belgian, sail designer for North Sails and professional sailor.
All have been carefully selected not just for their abilities but also to give Dee the opportunity to share their skills and fast-track her learning.
To follow Dee in her next quest you can track her position in this race and read her diaries on http://www.avivaoceanracing.com/.
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For further information contact:
Caroline Ayling
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7202 2840
Mobile: +44 (0)7801 351950
E-mail: carolinea@karen-earl.co.uk
Kelly Russell
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7202 2862
Mobilel: +44 (0)7786 516570
E- mail: kellyr@karen-earl.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Aviva
Caffari's sponsor Aviva plc 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 2005.
Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2006.
Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at http://www.avivaoceanracing.com/.