Dee Caffari is enjoying the buzz of high speed sailing on board Aviva as she heads towards the notorious "Roaring Forties" in the Vendée Globe, round the world yacht race.
Dee Caffari is enjoying the buzz of high speed sailing on board Aviva as she heads towards the notorious "Roaring Forties" in the Vendée Globe, round the world yacht race.
Hitting highs of 23.7 knots, Caffari is driving Aviva to the edge to cover the maximum distance whilst being careful not to push too hard and risk causing damage either to the Open 60 or herself. The weather in the Southern Ocean is expected to change over the next 36 hours, with increasingly strong winds set to arrive.
Mike Broughton, Caffari's weather routing trainer commented: "There is a pernicious little low pressure system approaching Aviva from the north-west and is set to bring storm force winds for a few hours on Friday. A lot of people think the low pressure systems just roll eastwards in the Southern Ocean, whereas every 10 days or so, a tropical low slips south in the centre of the South Atlantic.
"Originating in Brazil, these low pressure systems develop on a long 'waving front', they hold a huge amount of moisture in the warm air and generate big thunder storms and gusts up to 60 knots. The system is deepening through the next 24 hours and will probably give Dee storm force winds around rush hour time on Friday afternoon!"
The 10am ranking showed that Caffari has maintained her 15th position overnight, with Aviva thirty miles ahead of Arnaud Boissières on Akena Vérandas.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received on Wednesday 3 December at 7.15pm:
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"It is a real buzz. Exciting, adrenalin fuelled, and on the edge of your seats sailing.
"At the same time... It is full on, slightly scary and on the edge of control.
"Then I put a reef in.
"Then I changed to a smaller headsail.
"Then I filled the aft ballast.
"And still we surfed in the Southern Ocean at a top speed so far of 23.7 knots.
"Turning left is what I signed up for and it has delivered. The real thing to get my head round at the moment is every mile I sail this way is a mile closer to home. Last time round I sailed lots of miles and they didn't all take me closer to home.
"It is awesome! I am however a little apprehensive for the weather for the next couple of days.'
Dee and Aviva
Aviva Ocean Racing summary
Record-breaking British yachtswoman Dee Caffari, who sailed into the record books in May 2006 by becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world against the prevailing winds and currents, is attempt her next "world first" by competing in the Vendée Globe yacht race. Caffari is attempting to become the first woman to sail solo and non-stop both ways around 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 and interview requests contact:
Caroline Ayling
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E-mail: caroline.ayling@synergy-sponsorship.com
Kelly Russell
Mobile: +44 (0)7786 516570
E-mail: Kelly.russell@synergy-sponsorship.com
Website: www.avivaoceanracing.com
Images: www.avivaoceanracing.com/images
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 2007.
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 £359 billion at 30 June 2008.
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