Today two British sailors, Dee Caffari and her co-skipper Nigel King, finished their qualifying sail for the 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV) race onboard the Open 60 racing yacht Aviva. Caffari and King successfully completed the 1000-mile qualifying sail, from La Rochelle to Gosport, at 1.45am on 2 September 2007.
Today two British sailors, Dee Caffari and her co-skipper Nigel King, finished their qualifying sail for the 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV) race onboard the Open 60 racing yacht Aviva. Caffari and King successfully completed the 1000-mile qualifying sail, from La Rochelle to Gosport, at 1.45am on 2 September 2007.
Caffari has recruited King for the two-handed transatlantic race based on his extensive offshore racing experience. This is the first race in the Aviva Ocean Racing campaign that will be sailed in open seas without the restrictions of busy shipping lanes and coastal waters. King's experience will be invaluable in developing Caffari's decision-making and race tactics.
The pair first sailed together competitively in this year's Calais Round Britain Race as part of a five-man crew. King has since competed in La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figarobut was disappointed to have to retire after technical difficulties with the boat's electronics. Following today's successful qualification Caffari and King will now train together in the build up to the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre.
The 4,340-mile race signifies the next step of Caffari's rapid development into competitive Open 60 racing as she prepares to compete in the Vendée Globe 2008/09 and become the first woman to sail solo around the world in both directions. The Transat Jacques Vabre sets sail from Le Havre, France on 3 November 2007 and finishes in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
Dee Caffari said: "Completing the qualification sail for the TJV with Nigel is a really momentous step for the Aviva Ocean Racing campaign. This is going to be my first transatlantic crossing with Aviva - a real milestone in my Open 60 racing career. With Nigel's experience and knowledge I'm full of confidence ahead of this competitive race."
Nigel King added: "This is Dee's first transatlantic crossing onboard Aviva and I am hoping to be able to share some of my previous experience with her to make it as successful as possible. It's fair to say spirits are high in the Aviva camp today."
To follow Caffari and King's progress as they prepare for the TJV and to read Dee's diary entries log on to 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
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.
Nigel King biography
King's passion for sailing has involved him in the 2001/02 and 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Races, the Jules Verne Trophy, Olympic trials and many classic yachting events around the world. In 2000 he founded Nigel King Yachting, which offers a full yachting and coaching consultancy service. In 2006, he teamed up with Mike Golding and Ecover to set a new race record of 1 day 8 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds at the IMOCA St Nazaire/St Malo Race. See www.nigelkingyachting.com for further information on King's latest projects or contact info@nigelkingyachting.com
Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at www.avivaoceanracing.com