Dee Caffari calls on girl power for world record attempt
by Kelly Russell 7 May 2009 14:01 BST
In June, Dee Caffari, the British yachtswoman who made history by becoming the first woman to sail solo, non stop both ways around the world, will attempt to break the record for sailing around Britain and Ireland. Caffari will be joined onboard her yacht Aviva by an all female crew, including fellow British yachtswoman and Vendée Globe race rival Samantha Davies, for the record attempt.
Starting and finishing in Portsmouth, the route is almost 2500 nautical miles around the British coastline featuring some of the world’s most technical waters with ever-changing weather conditions, tidal flows and adverse land effects. Extra vigilance will be needed throughout the record attempt for shipping and other obstructions such as oil rigs in the North Sea.
Dee Caffari commented:
“It’s been over two months since the end of the Vendée Globe, so I am really looking forward to being reunited with Aviva and getting back out on the water. Although I haven’t sailed with a crew for a while, I think it will be great to have some company for this record attempt”
The current outright record to sail around Britain and Ireland in a monohull yacht stands at 7 days 4 hours and was set in May 2004 onboard Solune. The record for an all female crew stands at 10 days and 16 hours, which was set by Samantha Davies and her crew onboard Roxy in June 2007. With the potential to break two records, Caffari and the crew of Aviva will be waiting for ideal weather conditions before setting off.
Samantha Davies added:
“I can’t wait to get on the water and start chasing down the two records – I already hold the female crew title but I’m more than happy to break that with this team, and hopefully we can claim the outright record in the process. Dee and I became good friends during the Vendée Globe and with four other girls onboard Aviva as well I’m sure we won’t be short of conversation.”
Joining Caffari and Davies will be fellow Brits, offshore sailor Miranda Merron and boat captain Alex Sizer, German Figaro sailor Isabelle Joschke and freelance journalist Johanna Payton. The all female crew will be setting out in June but are waiting for the best weather window before deciding on an exact start date.