Aviva Boat Blessing
On 7 September 2008, Dee’s yacht Aviva was formally blessed in advance of the Vendee Globe race starting in November. Dee had selected two Godparents for Aviva and was joined by Lady Pippa Blake and Patrick Poivre d’Arvor who are now Aviva's Godmother and Godfather respectively. Dee was also joined by close friends and family along with her sponsor, Aviva, for this very special occasion.
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Two Boat Testing with Mike Golding and the Ecover team
Aviva arrived in Plymouth towards the end of August to begin a series of two boat testing with sister ship, ECOVER. Mike Golding joined Dee and the Aviva Ocean Racing team for the two week test period in which they gained valuable insights into optimising the boat performance of their near identical Open 60’s.
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Round up of Skandia Cowes Week 2008
Dee started Cowes Week with an invitation to the funfair. The British entries in the Vendee Globe were asked along to a photo shoot that placed them in a typically ‘British’ setting and what better place than a south coast amusement arcade. Of the seven British entries currently signed up for the race, six were able to attend on the day and they all enjoyed a trip down memory lane experiencing dodgem cars, waterslide rides and some traditional seaside fair – ice cream and a stick of rock!
On Tuesday, Dee was joined by Commonwealth gold medallist and Olympic decathlete Dean Macey, as they competed in the Artemis Challenge race around the island. It was an action packed and exciting race for the Aviva Ocean Racing team and Aviva held her own against the seven other Open 60 ‘s taking part. Dean’ s assets were put to good use and he was soon set to work as a grinder for his time onboard. To check out the action from the day, click here and view the Artemis Challenge vodcast. You can also view images of all the action, click here
Midweek, Dee and the team invited some guests out onto the water for a taste of Open 60 sailing and a close up view of the racing at Cowes. Following the day’s sailing, Dee spent some time at the Fat Face store in Cowes and introduced the Aviva Ocean Racing team kit to the yachting fraternity who were out in force enjoying the party atmosphere on the island. Cowes Week will came to a close culminating in a fly past by the Red Arrows followed by a fantastic firework display.
click here to see the official website for Skandia Cowes Week 2008
Artemis Challenge 2008
The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week was introduced in order to promote the IMOCA Open 60 class in British waters - and where better to do that than at Skandia Cowes Week? The Artemis Challenge forms part of the Skandia Cowes Week IRC Class 0 Big Boat Series and pits some of the best of the IMOCA Open 60 Fleet against each other in a 50-mile sprint around the Isle of Wight. The skippers and crews compete for a generous prize fund that will be donated to the winning team's charity of choice. In addition, the winning entry picks up the Artemis Challenge Trophy.
Winds were peaking at 23 knots for the Artemis Challenge 2008. Eight boats took to the start line for some really close racing and a true spectacle of how exciting the Open 60 are fully powered up.
click here to read Dee's diary throughout the event
JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2008
The annual JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, is one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar. Competitors come from Europe and the USA, as well as all over the UK, to follow the 50 mile course round the Isle of Wight.
Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the fleet races westabout, to The Needles, round St Catherine's Point and Bembridge Ledge buoy back into the Solent.
To read more on this event click here
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Artemis Transat 2008
The Artemis Transat is a single-handed transatlantic race steeped in history. Created in 1960 by Sir Francis Chichester and Blondie Hasler, and known until 2004 as the OSTAR, the oldest solo race in existence has created some great sailing legends over the last four decades. In 2008, the Artemis Transat left Plymouth, UK on 11 May and the fleet headed for Boston, USA. A victorious Loick Peyron took podium position some 14 days later - winning the race for the third time.
For more information on the Artemis Transat click here
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Ecover Transat B to B 2007
The Transat Ecover B to B is a new single-handed transatlantic race between Salvador de Bahia in Brazil and Brittany in France.
The route covers more than 4,000 miles between Salvador de Bahia and the port of La Foret-Fouesnant and follows on from the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre.
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Transat Jacques Vabre 2007
The Transat Jacques Vabre is a two-handed, non-stop 4340-mile race that follows the route taken by the clipper ships that used to transport coffee from Brazil. The race takes place every other year and has just completed it's eight edition of the race.
This year, the fleet was made up of Class 40s, Class 50s, Multihulls and Open 60s and a total of 64 boats took part in the race.
The monohulls departed from Le Havre, France on Saturday 3 November, with the multihulls following on Sunday 4 November.
This race cut across the vast open spaces of the Atlantic Ocean and the crews had to deal with the opposing weather systems of the northern and southern hemispheres.
Dee, Nigel and Aviva crossed the finish line at 21.10 UTC on Friday 23 November in 14th position and were delighted that Dee had successfully completed her first transatlantic race onboard Aviva.
Michel Desjoyeaux and Manu le Borgne onboard Foncia won the race in the IMOCA class, crossing the finish line 17 days after departing Le Havre.
click here to read Dee's diary throughout the event
Southampton Boat Show 2007
Today was the opening day of the Southampton Boat Show. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds to give everyone the illusion that summer was still here and people bustled from stand to stand and event to event.
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Transat Jacques Vabre Race - Qualifing Sailing
Aviva is heading to La Rochelle so I can start my qualifying sail of 1000 miles to allow me to have a place in the Transat Jacques Vabre Race this November.
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Rolex Fastnet Race 2007
Monday’s start was a nerve racking experience for me. My biggest dread of the race was to be short tacking out of the needles channel. Sure enough, after numerous tacks to get me from the Squadron line to Yarmouth it then took a further fourteen tacks before I cleared the needles! When there is only a crew of two and there are many things to remember to do all at the same time it becomes quite traumatic.
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Skandia Cowes Week 2007
We have been blessed this year with glorious sunshine and generally enough wind to get a race in every day at Cowes week this year. I have enjoyed the water not only on my Open 60, Aviva, but also on a very fast RIB called Thunderbird One and a motorboat called Blue Ocean.
click here to read Dee's diary throughout the event
Mini Transgasgogne
I am now back in France at Port Bourgenay, the neighbour to Les Sables D’Olonne, which hosts the Vendee Globe Race in 2008. I am joining Oliver Bond for another mini race. He delivered his mini ‘Base Camp’ Sail Number 438 in great style by arriving in second place in the race from Lorient.
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JP Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race.
As the third largest participation event in the UK, following the Flora London Marathon and the Great North Run, nearly 1800 boats took to the water this morning.
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Calais Round Britain Race
The start line arrived out of the mist and to beat the tide we all congregated at the pin end of the line. With the tide against us and light airs the common theme was to hoist the spinnaker and broad reach towards the next mark of the course.
click here to read Dee's diary throughout the event
Round Up Of Skandia Cowes Week
After a stunning week of Solent sailing, Skandia Cowes Week 2006 drew to a close with light and fickle northerly winds on Saturday causing the abandonment for all but four classes. This was an anomaly, in general the 180th Cowes Week was a cracker. Mixed conditions tested the sailors to the full. Starting the week, we had strong and blustery conditions, then we finished with light airs and a drift off. There were days of 'champagne' sailing, and other days of fallen rigs and damaged boats.
A record number of boats means 1,040 entries experienced some world-class racing during the Week and enjoyed an exciting and varied social scene off the water in Cowes. The week saw ABN AMRO provide a world class performance in Class zero, Maximus break the Round the Island Record, Betty Moore receive the inaugural Skandia Ladies Day Trophy for her 59th Cowes Week, and the Race Committee working hard to ensure that the Laser SB3 fleet had a successful regatta.
Thursday provided some controversy on the sixth day of the 180th anniversary of the regatta, there was some disappointment for eleven of the inshore White Group day boats as Race Officer Ian Lallow decided that the gusty force 5-6 north-north westerly winds were just too tough to send the fleets out. The Medina River was proving tough to navigate as the wind funneled down in the early morning across the Solent, so wisely a decision was taken to postpone racing for a little over an hour and a half as event meteorologist Chris Tibbs predicted a slight abatement in the wind strength from midday onwards.
After six days of blustery, testing conditions for the 8,500 competitors at Skandia Cowes Week, day seven of the regatta dawned with light north-westerly breezes, sunshine and a smooth Solent race track. Racing got underway on time with the Laser SB3's living up to their reputation of being the hardest charging of all the fleets with a general recall followed by a black flag start. What had been a week for the heavier boats now turned toward the advantage of the lighter boats, with the fleet occasionally sailing in as little as 4 knots of breeze.
Congratulations go to Fair Do's VII for winning the Black Fleet overall, and to all the other class winners. Particular praise to the Race Committee for mostly keeping the 1040 racing yachts apart from each other!
When seven yachts signed up for the first organised yacht race at Cowes on 10th August 1826, it is unlikely anyone envisaged that this would become the annual world-class yachting event that we now know as Skandia Cowes Week. With over 1,000 yachts and 8,500 competitors taking part in some very challenging first-class sailing, the Event attracted a wide range of local, national and international entrants, from true amateurs to Olympic and World champions. The organisers have organised a Working Party to look into the future of Skandia Cowes Week, and are interested in the view of the competitors.
So visit www.skandiacowesweek.com and have your say about the future of the event.
Click here to read Dee's diary throughout the event
Big V Sail Event
Thanks to Kensington Mortgages, the UK specialist mortgage provider, Team Caffari has been formed to race in the inaugural Big V Yacht Race.
This event, sponsored by Virgin Money, is the hottest new event in the sailing calendar and departs from Portsmouth on the 10th July and sets sail to Ireland where Cork will host the party and prizes for the race before the racing of Cork week commences. All yachts taking part will be raising money for Virgin money's charity partner, The Everyman Male Cancer Campaign.
It is a great event that encourages all sailors to the water, from novices to weathered, salty sea dogs and Team caffari will be no different. We will be setting sail across the Irish Sea onboard a Farr 45 called 'Audacious'. Racing together will be some professional crew and also some complete novices as well as representatives from our sponsor for the event, Kensington Mortages. The course is being recognised by the World Sailing Speed Record Council, and the winner will be listed in their records enabling crew to challenge for this record in subsequent Portsmouth to Cork Races.
It will be a fantastic race and we are really excited about it. Now all Team Caffari want to ask is, 'Can you keep up with Kensington?'
Click here to read Dee's diary throughout the event
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Centennial Newport Bermuda Race
This year the Centennial Newport Bermuda Race is taking part, departing from Newport Rhode Island in the US and after 635 miles arriving in the island of Bermuda.
There has been an amazing response and we shall see just over 300 yachts take to the water on the 16th June 2006. The race remains as one of the Great Ocean Racing Classics that many have on their list to compete in.
The race begins its journey in cold waters and quite often thick fog. Once through this area of the race course you meet the Gulf Stream with its warm temperatures it is easy to spot but it can have up to 4 knots of current flowing to the east. There are often eddies formed with the warm water meeting the cold water and these mixed up currents have a huge effect on a yacht. The favoured policy here is to cross the gulf stream as quick as possible. Once through this area, the yachts move into warmer waters and warmer weather generally and the best route from here is often the quickest and straighest line possible. Arriving in Bermuda is tricky as the island is protected in the north and the northeast by a reef so care and extreme caution must be taken on the approach to the finish line after some very intense sailing.
The Newport Bermuda Race forms part of the Onion Patch Race series that begins in Rhode Island and concludes with some inshore racing in Bermuda. The prize giving will take place in Bermuda on June 24th at Government House and HRH The Princess Royal will attend to hand the prizes out.
Click here to read Dee's diary throughout the event
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Dee races in the JP Morgan Round the Island Race
The country's largest and most famous yachting race, the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, took place at Cowes on the Isle of Wight on the 3rd June 2006. 1,587 boats took part in the race and, despite light airs for most of the day, nearly half completed the 50-mile course around the Isle of Wight before the 2200 time limit.
Dee joined the other 1600 yachts on the water for the JP Morgan Round the Island Race. This year she was lucky enough to be invited to join Team Basilica onboard their Volvo Extreme 40. The team are currently lying in second place on the Grand Prix circuit that has been taking place at the Volvo Ocean Race stop overs. They have just finished in Portsmouth after winning quite convincingly in some rather challenging weather conditions.
They are off next week to Rotterdam for the final event in the racing.
The yachts are really fun machines that provide an exhilarating ride. In very little wind they manage to fly a hull and achieve speeds far in excess of speeds that I saw all the way round the world. There was every chance that one of the VX40's could take the record for the Round the Island Race this year, however the weather had other plans.
Click here to read Dee's diary throughout the event
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Portsmouth In Port Race
Just a week after returning from 6 months at sea Dee was back out on the water. This time it was for a few hours, remained within sight of land and was with others onboard. Dee had joined the formula 1 of the sailing industry for the day and experienced first hand just how awesome the Volvo Open 70's really are and in particular how Black Betty and the crew of ABN AMRO ONE have come to dominate the Volvo Ocean Race under the guidance of Mike Moose Sanderson.
The Bank holiday Monday weather began with sunshine and a fresh breeze. This wind freshened throughout the day and the blue skies and sunshine in true Bank Holiday fashion began to be interrupted with rain from large clouds bringing huge shifts in wind direction and speed. They saw everything from 12 knots of wind to 35 knots of wind and after Dee's predominantly upwind voyage around the world on her 42 tonne steel Aviva, Dee felt what it was like to sail downwind on a 14 tonne carbon fibre-racing machine at speeds in excess of 25 knots.
It was a wonderful day and a victory not only allowed Dee to be considered a lucky guest for Black Betty and her boys but also it was a perfect birthday present for the amazingly calm, understated yet authoritive Mike Sanderson.
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Quotes after the race:
"It certainly doesn't get any better than this. It was a wonderful day and the end to a wonderful week after getting married on Friday."
"The boys gave me a fantastic birthday present and I think this one really belongs to the boys - they did a great job today. We had a couple of fantastic gybes which really gave us a chance to get back in the lead."
Mike Sanderson (NZ), Skipper
ABN AMRO ONE
"These boats are amazing and I had a fantastic time. I just can't believe the speed of the boats. They are just awesome and I want one!"
"After sailing for so long on my own, it was amazing to see the teamwork onboard. The crew work was just so slick, the volume onboard was really low and I just can not get over the speed. It was an amazing experience."
"Another thing that I can not believe is that they all share such a tiny living space. I am used to having the space to myself but it must be very cramped with ten guys onboard. They also have very little additional stuff on board. My boat weighs 42 tonnes and this is 14 tonnes, so they have to be so careful of any extra equipment they take onboard, but I didn't realise to what extent."
Dee Caffari, Record breaking round the world yachtswomen
guest on ABN AMRO ONE
