Storm Ahead Vendee Fleet

Whilst to the east of Rio de Janeiro the leading duo are still making relatively slow progress as they struggle to escape into more solid breeze, what Meteo France have described as the worst storm of this Vendee Globe awaits the trio of Brian Thompson, Dee Caffari and Arnaud Boissieres as they pass Cape Horn.

Marc Guillemot (Safran) stopped at the Falklands Islands at 1000hrs this morning to work on his mast track. British Yachtswoman Dee Caffari, onboard Aviva, has endured further damage to her mainsail following a battering by a 65 knot storm in the southern ocean. The solo skipper had already repaired a number of tears to her mainsail, but knew as she approached the notorious Cape Horn in a vicious storm it may lead to more damage.

A temporary decrease in wind strength will help Dee Caffari round the Cape in the next 36 hours and prepare for the next storm looming on the weather forecast. She will continue to conserve the mainsail as much as possible before attempting the repairs around the Falkland Islands.

Dee Caffari - Aviva Ocean Racing

Dee Caffari of Aviva Ocean Racing started training onboard her Open 60 Aviva in the English Channel. The Aviva Ocean Racing campaign is planned to culminate with her entry into the 2008/9 Vendee Globe. This race is contested by ocean racing's elite, is regarded as one of the world's most gruelling sailing races. Caffari's campaign will include a series of IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association) Open 60 races throughout 2007/8 in preparation for her entry into the 2008/9 Vendee Globe. The new purpose built race boat for the 2008 Vendee Globe entry is under construction.