Caffari and Corbella have the Cape Verde Islands in their sights
As Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella head past the Cape Verde islands today, the latest polling in the Barcelona World Race will be a bitter pill for the all female duo aboard GAES Centros Auditivos having just lost ninth position to race rivals Toño Pires and Pachi Rivero on Renault Z E.
Separated by just one mile, the girls will be desperate to reclaim their place, however with the Spanish team on Renault Z E currently the second fastest in the fleet at 18.4 knots, they will have their work cut out for them if they are to make good their chase.
Elsewhere in the race there have been several developments, the most notable being the dismasting of President last night at 1925hrs GMT. Skippers Jean Le Cam and Bruno Garcia are both onboard and safe as they head under engine to the more northerly tip of the Cape Verde islands. Foncia, currently in second place, have suffered damage to the crash box on the bow of their IMOCA 60 and intend to make a technical pit stop in Recife on the east coast of Brazil.
There has been another blow for fellow Brit competitor Alex Thomson who, having been declared medically fit to compete following his appendectomy, has postponed rejoining Hugo Boss due to the ill health of his baby son, Oscar, who was born four days ago.
Commenting this morning on the girls position, GAES project manager, Harry Spedding, said: “There is no doubt the girls will be disappointed with their boat speed over the last 24 hours. However, they are very aware that there are still another 11-12 weeks of racing to go.
"The loss of President from the fleet is unfortunate, as the sister-ship to GAES Centros Auditivos she made a useful pace setter for the girls to gauge their performance off. At the time of their dismasting President and GAES Centros Auditivos were only separated by one place in the fleet, so the girls should be content that they have not completely lost the pace.”
“I believe that the current standings are actually an aberration of the calculation used by the tracking system. In truth it will be another 24 hours before Renault Z E is truly ahead of GAES Centros Auditivos on the racetrack.”
Caffari and Corbella on GAES Centros Auditivos are in 10th place, 1 mile behind nearest race rivals Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez on Renault Z E Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron onboard Virbac-Paprec 3 currently lead the Barcelona World Race.
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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