Following the 25-hour postponement issued by the Fastnet race organisers, Dee Caffari and her Open 60 yacht Aviva, along with 15 other Open 60 yachts, crossed the start line off Cowes at 11am this morning.
Following the 25-hour postponement issued by the Fastnet race organisers, Dee Caffari and her Open 60 yacht Aviva, along with 15 other Open 60 yachts, crossed the start line off Cowes at 11am this morning.
Caffari is taking part in the two-handed race with her weather router and trainer, Mike Broughton. Taking full advantage of racing with her weather tactician, Caffari has made the decision to sail Aviva on a course running parallel to the English coastline.
Harry Spedding, campaign manager, said: "Dee and Mike are making the most of the good tide while they can and allowing for the fact that Aviva, being a second generation boat, will be unable to keep up with the newer boats when travelling in a straight line, tactics have come into play as they come inshore instead of following the Open 60 pack out to sea."
Also onboard Aviva is Olympic rowing legend, Sir Matthew Pinsent, who joins Caffari and Broughton as a non-participative journalist filming for the BBC. As the wind builds Pinsent will experience the full power of racing Open 60s offshore.
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Aviva Ocean Racing summary
After setting a world record last year sailing around the world against the prevailing winds and currents, Caffari is one of the newest recruits to the highly competitive world of Open 60 racing. The Rolex Fastnet Race is the step on a very steep learning curve towards achieving her ambition of competing in the Vendée Globe 2008/9 and becoming the first woman to sail around the world, solo, in both directions.
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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
Mobile: +44 (0)7786 516570
E-mail: kellyr@karen-earl.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Aviva
Caffari's sponsor 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 2006.
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.
The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.
Mike Broughton biography
Broughton has enjoyed a wide-ranging career working with the elite of the sailing world on a range of events and races. Both Olympic medallists and around the world race skippers seek his advice on forecasting and weather routing.
He also assists with forecasting for race organisers such as the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the America's Cup. As a racing navigator and skipper he has won many titles and trophies across the world. Broughton also had a successful and varied career in the Royal Navy, flying in the Fleet Air Arm and finally working in British Intelligence, seeing action in several war zones. Broughton is also qualified as a Master to captain huge superyachts.
Sir Matthew Pinsent biography
After an illustrious career in rowing from 1989 to 2004, during which Matthew was able to fulfil all his ambitions including winning four Olympic Gold Medals, he is now turning his hand to journalism and media pursuits.
Currently working at the BBC as a sports reporter with Inside Sport and previously at BBC News 24, Matthew is covering a range of sports from football to horse-racing and from rugby to the Winter Olympics. As yet no rowing!