British yachtswoman Dee Caffari spent much of yesterday preparing for the 70 knot storms that are expected to bid her farewell from the Southern Ocean.
British yachtswoman Dee Caffari spent much of yesterday preparing for the 70 knot storms that are expected to bid her farewell from the Southern Ocean. The solo skipper has approximately 500 miles to Cape Horn and is preparing herself for back-to-back gales as she is hit by the most challenging conditions the South has thrown at her.
Aviva Ocean Racing project manager, Joff Brown, spoke to Caffari this morning: "Dee reported that she's in winds of 65 knots. Officially that's hurricane strength but the mainsail is holding up and she is not going to let this one last blast from the Southern Ocean get the better of her and Aviva. There is more of this to come before rounding the Horn but both she and the boat are rising to the challenge."
Caffari's Open 60 Aviva is expected to round Cape Horn in the next 48 hours. It has been three years since the solo skipper was last in the vicinity of the Great Cape on her solo voyage the "wrong" way around the world. At least this time the infamous landmark will signify the gateway to the final stretch of her circumnavigation the "right" around the world way - the race back across the Atlantic.
Caffari is in 8th position just 40 miles behind Frenchman Arnaud Boissieres.
Dee Caffari's latest diary entry received on Monday 12 January at 5pm GMT:
"Knowing the bad weather is coming sets an air of anxiety about Aviva. All day I have been checking and double-checking everything as I keep looking at the grib file and seeing the monster that is coming. We have twenty hours of horror followed by a little respite to clear the corner and then we are back in strong winds again towards the Falklands. It looks like the rest and recovery for both boat and skipper will not happen for some time yet.
"Oddly enough the weather today has been sunny. Very little warmth to the sun now we are back south again but a pleasant day all the same almost teasing us as we prepare ourselves and the boats for our last kicking from the Southern Ocean."
Dee and Aviva
Aviva Ocean Racing summary
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, is attempt her next "world first" by competing in the Vendée Globe yacht race. Caffari is attempting to become the first woman to sail solo and non-stop both ways around the world.
Further information on Dee Caffari and her Aviva Ocean Racing campaign can be found at www.avivaoceanracing.com.
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Website: www.avivaoceanracing.com
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