Former competitors to team up?
Dee Caffari, 35, the first woman to sail solo around the world in both directions, has invited her arch-rival Sam Davies, 33, to crew for her in the next five-handed Round Britain & Ireland Race, the date for which is likely to be decided in the next two weeks. ‘I’ve invited Sam to join me and also Miranda Merron. The other two we have yet to decide upon,’ said Dee.
Dee, on a visit to London aboard Aviva, her Open 60, told YM of her plans when we went to visit her outside HMS President hard by the Tower of London. Both British sailors have recently returned from one of the toughest Vendee Globe, non-stop, solo, around-the-world races in the history of the event.
Although the race had its hair-raising moments Dee much prefers the Vendee with its fair currents and hoped-for fair winds to slamming into both elements going the ‘wrong way’ round.
‘As I sat on surfing waves I thought “Wow this is pretty full on” and when I looked aft and these huge seas were building up to give me more surfing I thought: “I spent 88 days crashing into those” when I went east -west.’
Dee took 178 days – 88 in the Southern Ocean – aboard her 72ft steel cutter, Aviva, when she sailed the wrong way, and 99 days -34 in the Southern Ocean – aboard her Open 60 of the same name.