Dee Caffari has made the decision to retire from the 2007 Fastnet race due to damage to the bottom of the mainsail. Repairing the sail has not been possible due to the worsening weather and proximity to land.
Dee Caffari has made the decision to retire from the 2007 Fastnet race due to damage to the bottom of the mainsail. Repairing the sail has not been possible due to the worsening weather and proximity to land.
The decision to retire was the only seamanlike option available to Caffari, as continuing in such testing weather would have put the boat and crew at risk. The English Channel's inshore conditions can often be harsher than offshore due to the increased currents and wind over tide resulting in short, steep seas that are more damaging than larger ocean swell.
Caffari and her crew of Mike Broughton and Sir Matthew Pinsent have suffered no injury during the racing, but have found the sea state very challenging. This was Pinsent's first offshore race and spending a night in up to 38 knots of wind have shown the Olympian just how tough offshore racing can be.
Dee Caffari, skipper of Aviva, said: "It was a very dark night with visibility down to half a mile and the 38 knots of wind created huge holes in the sea that the boat slammed into time and time again. The fact that half the fleet have pulled out and even Mike, a veteran of 13 Fastnet races, is finding this race tough is testament to the severity of the conditions."
Despite the strong winds, Caffari had a good night's racing and kept on the heels of the new generation Open 60s, which will enhance her confidence and sailing skills regardless of the decision to retire.
Andrew Roberts, campaign director, said: "It must have been an extremely tough night and from a performance point of view Dee must have been working incredibly hard to be just 30 miles behind the leading Open 60s."
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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: 07786 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!
Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at www.avivaoceanracing.com http://www.avivaoceanracing.com/.