Dee Caffari and Aviva have only 470 miles left in the Transat Ecover B to B race. Although Dee is only a couple of days from finishing her first solo competitive Open 60 race, she will face one final test as she approaches the unpredictable weather systems in the notorious Bay of Biscay.
Dee Caffari and Aviva have only 470 miles left in the Transat Ecover B to B race. Although Dee is only a couple of days from finishing her first solo competitive Open 60 race, she will face one final test as she approaches the unpredictable weather systems in the notorious Bay of Biscay. Dee is anticipating a strong easterly gale awaiting her but still hopes to cross the finish line at Port La Foret in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received on 18 December:
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"From floating and not even hearing the sea lap against the hull to full on reaching in over 30 knots of wind is a huge difference. I feel as if my senses have been assaulted.
"Below deck, the roar of the sea and surf trembles beneath your feet, the crash of every wave across the deck makes you duck by natural instinct. The sudden jolt as you fall from a wave unbalances you. There is nothing you can do without holding on or being sat down so there is less distance to fall!
"Despite wearing all the clothes I can muster, being on deck with the constant pounding and spray from waves leaves you breathless, cold and damp. The safest place is to be wedged in the corner of the cockpit with the tiller to hold onto and drive. It's an exhilarating feeling and I'm slightly on the edge of full control. The driving factor that keeps us pounding on is that each mile sailed is now a mile closer to home.
"Breaking the mileage from thousands to hundreds helps as it feels as if they go much quicker but we still cannot relax as we have the easterly gale of the Bay of Biscay to tackle before we can tie to the dock."
Dee
Aviva Ocean Racing summary
After setting a world record last year sailing around the world against the prevailing winds and current, Dee Caffari's next ambition is to compete in the 2008/9 Vendée Globe and become the first woman to sail around the world solo in both directions.
Transat Ecover B to B
The 4,300-mile single-handed Transat Ecover B to B from Salvador de Bahia in Brazil to Port-La-Forêt, France is most important milestone of the Aviva Ocean Racing campaign to date. The race will be the first time that Caffari has raced solo and is the first time she'll be alone at sea since completing her record making round the world voyage. Despite being one of the least experienced Open 60 Skippers in the fleet, Caffari is determined to prove she can compete alongside some of the best sailors in the world.
Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at 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 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.
2008/9 Vendée Globe qualification requires both the skipper and the boat entering the race to complete a solo qualification sail validated by the Vendée Globe race management of at least 1500 nautical miles, by 1 July 2008. The Transat Ecover B to B will qualify Dee and the current Aviva. However, she will be required to qualify the new Aviva that is currently under construction in Hakes Marine, New Zealand. She will be racing the new Aviva, sister ship to Mike Golding's new Ecover, in the 2008/9 Vendée Globe.