Solo-Around-Nonstop - Dee Caffari/Aviva www.avivachallenge.com - zur Übersicht 09.03.2006 "Nearly 18,000 miles with no damage and now I have managed lots at once." In Brief - Yankee sheet and two stanchions snapped after a decision to tack "ended in disaster" - Last night's front arrived earlier than expected, accompanied by 55-knot winds and a rainsquall - Another dive south on the cards to avoid worst of approaching tropical storm - “Entering the unknown”. This is the longest a Challenge 72 has been at sea so it’s unchartered waters and the “equipment is now being tested in ways that are new to us all” according to Shore Team Summary After a truly harrowing weekend when Dee reached the lowest point of the voyage so far, her 16th week at sea got off to a promising start. “Progress has been good,” she wrote on Tuesday, “and after having a chance for some rest and recuperation over yesterday the breeze has filled in and conditions have picked up again.” The weather was finally leaning in her favour so thoughts turned to the ‘jobs list’ that she had been hoping to tackle as soon as conditions allowed. Following the “pounding” Aviva has been through recently, Dee and the Shore Team both spoke of the need to carry out vital checks and indextenance work. “The forces these Southern Ocean conditions exerted on Aviva have been phenomenal,” said Dee, “and have proved the strength of her structure beyond doubt, but even so there are areas of concern that we will be testing and checking over the next few days.” Logistics Director Alistair Hackett said on Tuesday: “Dee has been at sea for 106 days and is now entering the unknown in terms of how certain equipment is going to wear and perform during the rest of her trip. The longest this design of yacht has ever been at sea in hard conditions is 40 days, so the equipment is now being tested in ways that are new to us all.” But when a front moved in last night it “packed more of a punch than we had thought,” according to weather forecaster Mike Broughton, and the yankee sheet and two stanchions snapped after an aborted decision to tack “ended in disaster” for the solo skipper. “After the rain arrived so did 55 knots of wind and a sixty-degree wind shift,” said Dee. “I waited for the squall to pass and went for the tack … More wind decided I wasn't going to tack, so I sheeted in on the original side again to find that the sheet had snapped and one end had wrapped itself around the top guard wire and snapped two stanchions, whilst the other end had tied itself in knots and was swinging at the clew of the sail.” Although the damage is minor, it was a psychological blow for Dee – avoiding damage is an obvious priority for a successful circumnavigation: “I am really frustrated as we have sailed nearly 18,000 miles with no damage and now I have managed lots at once.” According to Alistair, "Dee’s priority now is to replace the stanchions and yankee sheet, and make good the guard wire. The damage must have been very dramatic when it happened, maybe even worse because it happened in the dark. The most important thing is that there appears to be no damage to the headsail after the yankee sheet broke, so no damage was caused that would affect the performance of the yacht in the long term. “She carries spares of everything necessary apart from the actual guard wire; however there are other options available to replace this. We will keep in close contact with Dee to make sure she’s happy with the repair." While Dee attends to the latest obstacle, the strategy to tackle the next is already underway. Mike Broughton has reported a “tropical storm moving south from the middle of the Indian Ocean, which will bring more storm-force winds up to 60 knots.” The system is expected on Saturday so Dee will be heading south again to minimise time in storm-force winds. “At the moment it is a perfect circle of winds and is filling,” continued Mike. “However, once it passes below 40 degrees south it will change nature and become asymmetric, much like the secondary low-pressure system last week. “Once again the winds will not be as strong to the south and the good news is that we won't have to go anywhere near as far south this time, which reduces the risk of ice. Tomorrow conditions will be lighter as a high-pressure system passes, so hopefully she'll have a chance to recuperate and get ready before this storm hits.” Quick Links Read Dee’s latest diary, describing the events surrounding the damage during the night: http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=6&thisDay=9&thisMonth=3&view=day Listen to the latest podcast with Elaine Bunting, when Dee was in the midst of a dangerous icebergs and reached her lowest point of the voyage so far: http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=32 Send Dee a message of support aboard Aviva: http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=24 Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE