Zhik partner with Dee Caffari & James Harayda - Team Gentoo mixed offshore campaign
by Liz Rushall 8 Jul 2021 07:24 BST
Zhik partner with Dee Caffari & James Harayda © Alex Diemer
Zhik are delighted to announce Dee Caffari and James Harayda have joined the Zhik Team of sailors, and are focused on the UK double handed offshore series that includes the Rolex Fastnet Race.
The pair have had a successful start to this season, winning both the 2021 RORC Spring Series in April by just one second, and the Myth of Malham Race two-handed class of 38 entrants. They are currently leading the overall series, the Jeanneau division, the mixed crew division and the youth division.
With two solo circumnavigations, (both west and east bound), a Vendee Globe and two Volvo Ocean Races to her name, Dee's extensive offshore racing experience complements James' skills, apptitude and ocean racing ambitions. A graduate of the Briitsh Keelboat Academy aged 22, the pair teamed up in 2020 and were selected for the EUROSAF Mixed Offshore European Championships last September in Genoa.
Dee comments, "I'm thrilled to be working with Zhik, a dynamic, forward-looking brand that is working hard on it's ECO agenda too. Sailing double-handed with James has been a fabulous reminder to me just what fun sailing is. For me, this campaign is a superb follow on from Turn the Tide on Plastic, working with young sailors and bringing out the best in everyone. With highly competitive short-handed racing you get to do everything on board. We are learning and building confidence together - and clearly every second counts! With Zhik on board we are free to focus on our racing, knowing we'll be warm and dry, or cool and comfortable, throughout everything that super-intense offshore racing throws at you, night and day."
Piet Poelman, Zhik CEO adds, "We are delighted to welcome Dee and James to our Zhik Team. Having been inspired by Dee's impressive racing career and ambassador roles, I'm particularly looking forwards to learning from her and James, whether it's about our gear, ECO policy or diversity and inclusion in sailing!"
Dee and James' next event is the RORC Cowes-St Malo, RORC Channel Race and culminates with the Rolex Fastnet Race in August, which with 92 double-handed monohulls registered has more entries than Class 0 and 1 combined!
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