9 November 2008
British yachtswoman Dee Caffari starts the Vendée Globe 2008/09
At 12:02 (GMT) solo yachtswoman Dee Caffari and her Open 60 yacht Aviva
started the Vendée Globe 2008/09 yacht race alongside 29 other Open 60 boat
as the race fleet headed into the notorious Bay of Biscay.
7 November 2008
British yachtswoman Dee Caffari to attempt new world record
Record-breaking British yachtswoman Dee Caffari, who sailed into the record
books in May 2006 by becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around
the world against the prevailing winds and currents, will start her next
world firstı attempt on Sunday 9 November. Caffari is attempting to become
the first woman to sail solo and non-stop both ways around the world.
The solo skipper, sponsored by the worldıs fifth largest insurance group
Aviva since her first world record voyage in 2005/06, will start the Vendée
Globe yacht race at 12:02 (GMT) on Sunday 9 November from Les Sables
dıOlonne, France. The Vendée Globe, often known as the Everest of the
Seası, is an extreme 27,000-mile challenge through the Atlantic and the
notorious Southern Ocean.
Caffari may be making her Vendée Globe debut but she already has a wealth of
experience of battling the storms and depressions widespread in the
treacherous Southern Ocean. She has accumulated over 200 days of sailing in
this hostile region on previous voyages. The index difference is that this
time she will be sailing with the winds and currents and it will be in a
competitive race environment. Caffari took 178 days to complete her first
record-breaking voyage known as the Aviva Challenge but, with a new
generation, state-of-the-art Open 60 yacht also called Aviva, she will
attempt to circumnavigate the globe in approximately 90 days.
A total of 30 solo skippers from seven different countries will start the
Vendée Globe on Sunday. The majority of the fleet are French but competitors
from the UK, Spain, Switzerland, America, Canada and Austria are all
determined to challenge the French dominance in this race. Since 1989 a
Frenchman has won every edition of this gruelling race. However, with 22 new
boats built specifically for the Vendée Globe 2008/09, this is going to be
the most hotly contested race to date.
Caffari said from the dockside in Les Sables dıOlonne:
On Sunday, Iıll set sail against the best solo sailors in the world in my
attempt to set a second world record. My boat Aviva has been prepared well
and Iıve trained hard both physically and mentally to be in the best shape
to take on this gruelling race. My number one goal is to bring Aviva home
safely and sail into the history books again. The Vendée Globe is a
notoriously tough and challenging race with history proving 40% of the fleet
will fail to make the finish line but Iım feeling confident I can complete
the double world first.ı
Philip Scott, chief financial officer, Aviva added:
Everyone in the Aviva group is hugely proud of Deeıs achievements to date
and we all wish her the best of luck in the Vendée Globe. Dee may be alone
at sea, but I know that she has the support of 57,000 employees in our 27
countries around the world behind her. Weıre all looking forward to
watching the race unfold and will be following Deeıs progress daily.ı
- ends -
Website:
www.avivaoceanracing.com
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