GAES Centros Auditivos. Image copyright Chris Cameron/DPPI/Barcelona World Race.
by Jo Uffendell
The all female duo aboard GAES Centros Auditivos are still waiting for suitable calm weather conditions to be able to affect a repair to the crack in the ballast tank discovered a week ago. Although a temporary fix has been put in place, Caffari needs the winds to drop before she can carry out more extensive work which she hopes will hold for the next 3,500 miles until they cross the finish line in Barcelona.
The repair will involve Caffari cutting into the ballast tank to mend both sides of the damage and the record breaking British yachtswoman has been sanding down the area for the last few days in preparation.
Caffari reports:
“I have spent the last two days sanding carbon either in the sail locker or with my head actually inside the ballast tank. The high temperatures and carbon dust flying everywhere do not make for pleasant working conditions and my skin is massively itchy and painful as a result. It is a job that has to be done and thankfully the sea temperatures are warm enough now that bucket showers are easy to come by.”
Project Manager, Harry Spedding, added:
“Dee and Anna have been slightly frustrated over the last week. Hot and itchy from carbon dust they have been closing down the boats in front whilst waiting for an opportunity to repair the structural damage in the front of the boat. The frustration has come from the fact that they have been forced to race at 60-70% of the boat’s potential. If the sea state had just been a little kinder, and allowed them to apply an earlier fix, they would now be another 250 miles closer to the boats ahead.”
At the 0900hrs ranking, Caffari and Corbella maintain their 6th place at 3534 miles from the Barcelona World Race finish and 615 miles behind Neutrogena. At the front of the fleet, first and second placed Virbac-Paprec 3 and Mapfre have both elected to go into stealth mode for 36 hrs.
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
