British record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari, today bid farewell to Cascais Marina in Portugal to set sail for Plymouth, in preparation for the Artemis Transat.
British record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari, today bid farewell to Cascais Marina in Portugal to set sail for Plymouth, in preparation for the Artemis Transat. The race, which starts on 11 May, will be Aviva's first competitive outing since launching in New Zealand last December. Caffari is using the sail to Plymouth as a training run before the historic Trans-Atlantic race from Plymouth to Boston.
Caffari has completed five weeks of intensive training off Portugal's west coast, which has included guidance from French weather expert Jean-Yves Bernot, sailing with technical alliance partner Mike Golding and completing the required 1,000-mile solo sail to qualify for the Transat. Caffari and Golding spent a short but invaluable few days together trying new sails and preparing for their period of two-boat testing scheduled to take place later this summer. The Aviva Ocean Racing team were able to draw on Golding's extensive Open 60 experience and expertise as well as pass on their own knowledge of the Owen-Clarke designed sister-ship to Ecover 3. Both teams are now looking forward to testing their new generation boats side-by-side.
Caffari will spend the next 10 days sailing solo from Portugal across the infamous Bay of Biscay. The solo skipper will pass through the scene of her dismasting last December, when she and her old generation Open 60 had to retire from the Transat Ecover B to B race.
Caffari commented before departing Cascais: "My next few days alone on Aviva is all about spending time onboard and getting used to her as a boat, the noises she makes and the way she likes to sail in different weather. I'll also use the time to practise my weaknesses, particularly eating and sleeping at sensible times, whilst I do not have the pressure of a competitive environment. This is going to be invaluable time at sea to collect data, test the electronics and check the power consumption. There is always a long list of things to achieve before a big race but this is a perfect preparation opportunity for both me and Aviva."
To follow Dee Caffari's sail from Portugal to Plymouth log on www.avivaoceanracing.com/.
-ends-
For further information, images and interview requests 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:l 07786 516570
E-mail: kellyr@karen-earl.co.uk
Notes to editors:
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 £49.2 billion and funds under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2007.
The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.