26 April 2006
AVIVA CHALLENGE HOTS UP WITH 3,200 MILES TO GO
Solo round-the-world yachtswoman re-crosses the Equator
but the infamous calms of the Doldrums have expanded
and threaten to hold up her race for the line
Only 3,200 miles reindex in Dee Caffari's attempt to achieve a gruelling world-first, but the notorious Doldrums are looming. Caffari has been heading northwest to try and punch her way through the infamous Equatorial calms in the shortest possible time, but they have expanded into an ocean sailor's nightmare that could stop her in her tracks.
The enormous area of light winds could add up to a week onto Caffari's attempt to become the first woman to sail round the world solo and non-stop against the prevailing winds and currents. Aviva Challenge weather forecaster Mike Broughton explains:
"There is no such thing as an easy path through the Doldrums and they are looking particularly wide at the moment. If she had continued north along the coast of Africa the band of light and fitful winds could have been up to 400 miles wide and Aviva could have been becalmed there for weeks.
"Traditionally the Doldrums become narrower as you head towards 30° west, so Dee has been gybing northwest while we searched for the right time to turn north because the entry point is vital. Technological advancements in the last 15 years have made it easier to find the optimum crossing point, and we have been using four different types of satellite data in conjunction with routing software and previous experience. However, the Doldrums are a moving target and the situation can change rapidly so there is a real danger that Dee will get stuck."
After 156 days alone at sea, Caffari has sailed 25,577 miles and is pushing as hard as she can to make it home by mid-May. But there is still a long way to go and nothing is certain.
"My final days sailing in the Southern hemisphere have been frustrating as I had to sail west and haven't been able to point 'Aviva' in the direction of home. It's a case of once again having nature's elements stacked against me" said Caffari.
"After a particularly vicious and draining passage across the Southern Ocean, the Atlantic is threatening to hold me captive in the Doldrums; an area of relentless heat, terrible rainsqualls and thunder and lightening dominated by a distinct lack of wind. I must try and break through as quickly as possible to avoid the excruciating prospect of being becalmed for days."
Back on land Caffari's shore team have begun preparations for her arrival at the end of a remarkable marathon voyage. They have confirmed that once she crosses the finish line between Ushant, France and The Lizard, UK, she will make her way to Ocean Village in Southampton, UK.
Messages are already flooding in to the website from all over the world praising Caffari's astonishing tenacity and determination. The excitement is building for her return which is currently looking likely to be sometime in mid-May, updates will be posted nearer the time on www.avivachallenge.com.
The dramatic voyage is far from over though. Even when she makes it through the Doldrums, there is an ever-present threat of failure. Aviva Challenge project director Andrew Roberts commented:
"This design of yacht has never been continually at sea for this period of time before and a technical failure at this stage could still bring an early end to the record attempt. Dee must indextain the excellent seamanship and attention to detail in the final stages that has already proved so successful."
-Ends-
Enquiries:
· Karen Earl Sponsorship
Dan Wedgwood +44 (0)207 202 2846 / 07787 521995
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Sue Winston, head of group media relations +44 (0)20 7662 8221 / +44 (0)7800 699 661
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