Dee Caffari and Aviva are speeding towards the finish line of the Transat Ecover B to B race. Dee is overjoyed to be sailing at speed again following several days of being stuck in windless and extremely frustrating conditions.
Dee Caffari and Aviva are speeding towards the finish line of the Transat Ecover B to B race. Dee is overjoyed to be sailing at speed again following several days of being stuck in windless and extremely frustrating conditions. The latest polling shows that Aviva is currently the fastest boat out on the water, recording a speed of 14.7 knots. Dee is hoping to close the 120-mile gap to her race rival, Spirit of Canada. With only 770 miles remaining Dee is now looking forward to being back home in time for Christmas.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received on 16 December:
To receive Dee's diary automatically, visit www.avivaoceanracing.com/rss to sign up for the RSS feed.
"It is an all or nothing affair. This morning I was barely moving, with the mainsail slatting from side to side and trying to inch my way past the southern most Island of the Azores. Since that time there have been five sail changes and I am now surfing my way in 20 to 30 knots of wind in a big swell and every mile is heading home. The sky is clear and the half moon is lighting my way. Very different from when I last saw this amount of breeze and there was no sky to make a visual on at all. In fact, if I hadn't of been so tired today, I think I would have appreciated what an awesome day it was to be sailing. So as not to miss out I even sat watches with my autopilot. He was never late for his watch but I must admit to being late a few times with my watch, but he never complained!
"To make today even better I have finally broken through the 1,000 mile barrier so now I feel much better and Christmas is looking like an option again!
"Start warming up those mince pies...I'm on my way home!"
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.
-ends-
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 1,500 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.