Today, Valentine's Day, record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari will be a special guest at the launch of "Meet Your Navy", a spectacular three-day summer event hosted by the Royal Navy.
Today, Valentine's Day, record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari will be a special guest at the launch of "Meet Your Navy", a spectacular three-day summer event hosted by the Royal Navy. The event, that will allow the public access to Royal Navy ships and personnel, is to be held between 25-27 July and is being staged jointly by Portsmouth Naval Base and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
The Royal Navy has a special place in Caffari's heart as they have supported the inspirational skipper through some of her sailing career highs and lows. In 2006, when Caffari became the first woman to sail non-stop around the world against the winds and currents, Naval Frigate HMS Cumberland escorted the solo yachtswoman across the official finish line. Then in December last year, Caffari and HMS Northumberland met in the Bay of Biscay under very different circumstances.
On 19 December 2007, Caffari's Open 60 yacht Aviva was dismasted in heavy winds and Caffari found herself stranded in busy shipping lanes just a few hundred miles from the finish of the Transat Ecover BtoB race. Royal Naval Frigate HMS Northumberland was en route to Plymouth when they learned of Caffari's dismasting and immediately offered their help. The ship and crew diverted to keep watch over Aviva while Caffari awaited a tow into the Spanish port of La Coruna.
Today, Dee will board Royal Navy flagship HMS Ark Royal to speak of how she "met" the Navy in the Bay of Biscay last year and tell the tale of how the Navy became her "guardian angels" allowing her to rest after a traumatic experience.
Caffari said: "The Royal Navy has been such a good friend to Aviva and I over our relatively short sailing career. The crew of HMS Northumberland will always have a special place in my heart after they came to watch over me last year. It's such a pleasure to meet all the guys, especially on Valentine's Day, and thank them personally for all their support through the good times and the more challenging times."
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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:
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