Good start for Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella in the Barcelona World Race
At 12:00 GMT today, record breaking British yachtswoman Dee Caffari and her Spanish co-skipper, Anna Corbella, crossed the start line of the 25,000 mile Barcelona World Race onboard the IMOCA 60 yacht GAES Centros Auditivos. This is Caffari’s first round the world race since the epic Vendée Globe which saw Caffari finish sixth out of 30 starters to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, both ways around the world.
As the only all-female crew in the competition, both Caffari and Corbella are keen to put in a consistent and competitive performance and showed their enthusiasm as they rounded the North buoy in third position 26 minutes after crossing the start line.
Before leaving the dock, Caffari spoke about the first stage of the race: “The Mediterranean is complicated and we’ve practised here a lot but we’ve got 500 miles of it to start and finish with and honestly this is the part I dread the most. In stark contrast, Anna knows the Med well but has never sailed in the Southern Ocean so hopefully we can support each other and draw on our strengths in each area.”
When asked about the contrast between solo and double handed sailing, Caffari added: “Overall I’m really confident about the race and looking forward to enjoying it. I know there will be some bad times as well as lots of good times and it will be great to have someone to share them all with.”
One of the first things the girls will be sharing this evening is an old Spanish tradition, which Corbella explained as she boarded GAES Centros Auditivos: “Although we will have just begun the Barcelona World Race, I am hoping that I can continue an old Spanish custom of eating the 12 grapes.
"At midnight tonight, as the clock strikes 12 it is tradition in Spain to eat 12 grapes, one on each chime of the clock. I have the grapes with me and if we join the rest of Spain in doing this, it will give us good luck for 2011.”
After Alex Thomson’s forced retirement from the race due to an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday, Dee Caffari will be the only one flying the flag for Great Britain in the race. Wouter Verbraak, Hugo Boss’s replacement skipper has jumped onboard as substitute skipper for the race.
The fleet are anticipating light winds through the Mediterranean to the Straits of Gibraltar which will create a frustrating and stressful start for the skippers who will all be hoping to make some early gains. Sail choice and tactical decisions will be all important as these are likely to shape the fleet and as the leading group break out into the stronger winds of the Atlantic the gap will increase more rapidly. Teams playing catch up might spend a long time trying to make good their early deficit.
Aviva has been a longstanding supporter of Dee Caffari and her inspirational record breaking sailing achievements, assisting her to three world records including becoming the first woman to sail solo, non stop, around the world in both directions. As Founding Partner of Caffari’s sailing campaign, Aviva is pleased to extend this support to Corbella and GAES for the Barcelona World Race.
-ends-
For more information go to www.deecaffari.com, www.gaesbwr.com, www.barcelonaworldrace.org and www.annacorbella.com
For high resolution images and video of Dee Caffari, Anna Corbella and GAES Centros Auditivos, please contact Jo Uffendell – jo@deecaffari.com or Coralie Rassinoux – coralie@deecaffari.com
Press contact in UK:
Jo Uffendell
jo@deecaffari.com
Phone: +44 7699 429 260
Press contact in Spain:
Grupo Inforpress
Ricard Franco
Phone: +34 93 419 06 30 / +34 648 03 30 43
rfranco@inforpress.es
Notes to editors:
Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella
In 2006 British yachtswoman Dee Caffari MBE became the first woman to sail solo, non stop, around the world against the prevailing winds and currents. In 2009, Dee’s 6th place finish in the notorious Vendée Globe race secured her a double world record as she became the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the globe in both directions.
Dee is competing in the Barcelona World Race alongside co skipper, Anna Corbella, who is the first Spanish woman to complete a solo transatlantic race claiming an excellent 13th place.
GAES - leader in hearing aids
Founded in 1949 and based in Barcelona, GAES Centros Auditivos has always been a pioneer in technological innovation. GAES is dedicated to providing hearing solutions for people with hearing problems. GAES currently has a network of over 500 auditory centres, of which over 400 are in Spain and the rest spread through Portugal, Chile, Argentina and Turkey.
Last year GAES, through GAES Solidaria and with the advice, technical and logistical support of the Fundació Navegació Oceánica Barcelona, entered the world of ocean racing. Its sports sponsorships totalled six Mini Class Spanish sailors, including Anna Corbella, who participated in the famous Mini-Transat. The sponsorship was linked to the distribution of 200 hearing aids among the various projects GAES Solidaria runs in different countries.
Aviva
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