Solo-Around-Nonstop - Dee Caffari/Aviva www.avivachallenge.com - zur Übersicht 02.03.2006 Storm force 11 again for Dee In Brief - Second storm in three days approaching fast - Dee is charging southwest to try and avoid the worst of the storm - Deck leaks reported but origins cannot be found until conditions moderate - Dee and Aviva have now been tackling the harsh Southern Ocean conditions for 57 days Summary Dee is bracing herself for big winds and huge seas again tonight – the second storm in three days is moving in fast bringing winds of 55 knots, equivalent to Storm Force 11. “At noon today Dee was already down to three reefs and there have been gusts of 45 knots,” said Project Director Andrew Roberts, “and there is no avoiding this violent secondary low-pressure system. Dee is currently in a race to get south-west as fast as possible to avoid the worst of this storm and it is apparent that the conditions are beginning to take their toll. Dee said today she is ‘physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted’ adding that she is, ‘hanging on for the ride for the next 12 hours.’ “Aviva has now spent 57 days in harsh Southern Ocean conditions and is taking a hammering in the extremely rough seas. Dee has reported some deck leaks, the origins of which she can’t locate until conditions moderate. This is the longest that a Challenge 72 has been at sea continuously and while we’re confident about the boat, she’s showing signs of the hammering. As soon as the wind abates Dee will have to make sure that there’s nothing failing we don’t know about. She also has to be certain that vital electrical and electronic equipment is not being damaged by leaks.” Weather forecaster Mike Broughton says the move to the south was not the original plan for this part of the voyage, but is a necessary strategy considering the weather ahead: “It’s a small system, around 400 miles across, but it’s moving fast at about 44 knots in a south-southeast direction, so we’re not going to get quite far enough south to avoid it in time. “It is quite an unusual move as we are aiming to minimise time further south at this stage, but as it is an asymmetric system the winds on the south side are not quite as strong as those on the north. If we stay to the north we would not only see 50-knot winds for longer, but the rapid wind-shift from the north to northwest and eventually southwest would cause a hideous sea state. “So she is currently charging southwest and is doing a great job. Yesterday she had covered 220 miles in a 24-hour period, which is great speed for this boat in these conditions by herself. She was understandably scared about the first system that passed through but it went very well, so we’re hoping that, while this one will be worse, it will go just as well. “I have promised her that once she is clear of this secondary low we will take the first opportunity to head northwest again. The reward for Dee will be lighter winds on Sunday.” Quick Links See the latest rough weather photographs taken by Dee aboard Aviva: http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=48 “I swear that time was slowing down as my anguish increased.” – Read Dee’s latest diary entry: http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=6 See video clips of Dee’s journey, recently posted in the Multimedia Locker: http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=31 Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE