Dee Caffari and Nigel King were hit by a cruel setback with just 180 miles to go to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Aviva was within 20 miles of Cervin EnR, Dee and Nigel’s race-rivals, when the top section of the mast splintered due to the Gennaker halyard block exploding.
Dee Caffari and Nigel King were hit by a cruel setback with just 180 miles to go to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Aviva was within 20 miles of Cervin EnR, Dee and Nigel's race-rivals, when the top section of the mast splintered due to the gennaker halyard block exploding.
At 9.36pm (UTC) Dee reported: "Nigel and I had just finished putting a reef in the main sail when we heard a loud bang. I looked forward to see the Gennaker hanging off to leeward but still full of wind. Nigel instinctively looked aloft and gave a cry to bear away from the wind. The gennaker halyard had snapped but the concern on Nigel's face was for the shattered carbon splinters that lay by his feet at the base of the mast.
"The lashing for the block on the halyard had blown and this meant the halyard cut through the carbon of the mast and made a long slice through the top section. We collected all the bits from the sail and the mast. Harry and the shore team will need most of this to make a repair and enable me to sail home in the return race."
Dee and Nigel assessed the situation and are able to complete the remaining miles to the finish line but have had to swallow the bitter disappointment that they may not be able to clinch 13th place from Cervin EnR.
Dee added: "We have to have at least one reef as we're not confident about hoisting to a full mainsail. The limited options available to us with the sail plan have left us hoping that the weather will allows us to make good progress. We may have to settle for Cervin EnR arriving before us and that would be a shame after all the effort we have made to sail fast and recover the mileage deficit."
Dee and Nigel's estimated time of arrival into Salvador de Bahia is now mid-afternoon UTC. Upon arrival the shore team will establish the extent of the damage and the repairs required to get Dee to the start line of the Transat B to B, Dee's first solo sail since completing the Aviva Challenge in 2006.
To follow Caffari and King's progress in the Transat Jacques Vabre race and to view Dee's video diary entries log on to www.avivaoceanracing.com.
To receive Dee's diary, via the RSS feed visit www.avivaoceanracing.com/rss.
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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:
All skippers taking part in the 2007 race signed the Transat Jacques Vabre Charter for Sustainable Development. The five main aims of the Charter are:
- Promote the values of sailing
- Reduce the ecological footprint of the Transat Jacques Vabre event
- Encourage everyone involved to commit towards creating a responsible event
- Encourage the public to engage with the challenges of sustainable development
- Develop the local dynamics and North-South relations
Aviva plc
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.
- Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at www.avivaoceanracing.com
- Further information on Nigel King can be found at www.nigelkingyachting.com