Anna Corbella on GAES. Image copyright Dee Caffari/Gaes Centros Auditivos.
by Jo Uffendell
Despite concerns from British skipper Dee Caffari that GAES Centros Auditivos may yet be plagued by lighter winds later tomorrow, the all female duo continue their battle to stay with the middle pack as they head towards the roaring forties.
Reporting early this morning, the ‘GAES girls’ said:
“After days of winds between 5 and 10 knots to be sailing now in winds of 15 to 20 knots makes it feel as if we are sailing in a gale. The contrast is remarkable. But we have to use the wind while we can as we will fall foul of light winds again by tomorrow afternoon. Will we ever get free of the hold the South Atlantic has over us? The daytime sun is still scorching but the nighttime temperatures have already started to drop dramatically. The cold is calling; can someone let the high pressure know?!”
With the fleet spacing out as it heads south, Caffari and Corbella know that they must push hard now to stay close to their fellow competitors in the middle group if they are to remain within striking distance when they reach the conveyor belt Southern Ocean. However, the all female duo continue to be mindful of striking the balance between pushing hard and ensuring GAES Centros Auditivos remains in good shape in advance of the onslaught in the south.
Illustrating the strain hard racing has on the IMOCA Open 60’s, Central Lechera Asturiana skippered by Juan Merediz and Fran Palacio have announced that they will be making a technical pit stop in Cape Town to repair a leak which is ultimately affecting their canting keel. At the front of the fleet Foncia and Virbac-Paprec 3 are fast approaching the first security gate on the course with a comfortable lead of around 500 miles on their closest race rival Mapfre. At the 0900hrs ranking today, Caffari and Corbella onboard GAES Centros Auditivos were in 9th place, thirty four miles behind closest rivals Boris Herrmann & Ryan Breymaier on Neutrogena. There is currently a separation of 1340 miles between first and last in the fleet.
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
