Thursday 3 February 2011

BWR: Caffari and Corbella Go Against the Flow off the Cape of Good Hope


Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella on board GAES Centros Auditivos. Image copyright Maria Muina/Barcelona World Race.

by Coralie Rassinoux

At just over four weeks into the Barcelona World Race, Dee Caffari and her Spanish co skipper Anna Corbella are not having an easy time of it on the Barcelona World Race. Due to the combination of a high pressure system unusually far south and the presence of additional ice gates imposed for safety reasons, the all-female duo have been forced north which has resulted in them battling upwind conditions to make any progress along the race course. The upwind slog looks set to continue for the next couple of days with the only silver lining being reaching the next milestone on their race as they passed the Cape of Good Hope today.

Caffari commented on their circumstances:
“We can’t stay miserable and have to remain positive as we have these conditions for a while. Reaching another milestone is always good and it is fantastic for Anna to have passed the Cape of Good Hope today, something she has never done before on a race.”

Caffari and Corbella have certainly not lost their sense of humour as is evident from the latest spoof video the girls sent back from onboard GAES Centros Auditivos. Dressed as a pirate, Caffari had taken Corbella hostage as was demanding downwind sailing conditions as a ransom for her release. (See video below.)

Virbac-Paprec 3 still leads the Barcelona World Race fleet with a comfortable lead of over 500 miles. At the 0900hrs ranking today, Caffari and Corbella onboard GAES Centros Auditivos were in 8th place, 281 miles behind closest rivals Boris Herrmann & Ryan Breymaier on Neutrogena.

Aviva has been a longstanding supporter of Dee Caffari and her inspirational record breaking sailing achievements, assisting her to three world records including becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in both directions. As Founding Partner of Caffari’s sailing campaign, Aviva is pleased to extend this support to Corbella and GAES for the Barcelona World Race.

GAES Centros Auditivos
Barcelona World Race