British yachtswoman Dee Caffari took advantage of the calmer conditions off the Brazilian coast yesterday to pay further attention to Aviva's mainsail. Since late December Caffari has suffered from a delaminating mainsail that has required numerous repairs.
British yachtswoman Dee Caffari took advantage of the calmer conditions off the Brazilian coast yesterday to pay further attention to Aviva's mainsail. Since late December Caffari has suffered from a delaminating mainsail that has required numerous repairs.
Caffari's work on the shredded sail seems to have stood her in good stead. Over the last ten days she has made up over 800 miles on fellow female competitor Sam Davies. Caffari hopes that her latest repairs, which involved sticking and stitching patches of other sails to be degrading mainsail, will see her and Aviva successfully complete the race and continue their competitive run up the Atlantic.
With just over 4,000 miles to go to the finish line, the race to be the first British competitor back continues with only 400 miles between Davies in fifth and Caffari in seventh position.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received on Sunday 25 January at 7pm GMT:
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"Well, there was no such thing as Sunday being a day of rest today on Aviva.
"Looking at the weather files I knew today was going to be light and there is a chance that we will only have light conditions for today. After that we should see ourselves in breeze of varying strengths all the way to the doldrums, but this transition zone was going to have to be crossed. This did signal alarm bells but also a realisation that this was my chance to get the repair sorted on the mainsail. When conditions are light you hate stopping your boat but it was a case of needs must.
"I dropped the main just before lunch as the wind was easing and, asking my pilot to keep us heading in the right direction albeit slowly, I began fixing the mistakes I made last time and then doing the same job on the other side of the mainsail. More sikaflex, perhaps more over me than the sail, more tape and this time some stitching. Three hours of backwards and forwards, especially when stitching, as I had to go from one side of the mainsail to the other - it must have looked quite comical. Then eventually I re- hoisted, pleased with my work. I really had then hit the light patch of wind, so my exercise levels continued as I changed headsail for the Code 0, to try and keep us moving.
"Progress is up and down now but I am too exhausted to worry too much. I am drinking loads of water as I have caught a bit too much sun on my back doing the repairs. I am pleased to have got the job done and now I am satisfied that I continue to ghost along with every puff of wind and hope I can make up any miles lost during this maintenance session today."
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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Website: www.avivaoceanracing.com
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