Dee Caffari's blog

Another milestone passed today as I crossed to the north of Gate number 9. That leaves just one more gate and Cape Horn left down here then Aviva and I can hand brake turn left and head north. I also broke through the 10000 miles to go barrier which is a nice incentive.

As promised I have passed north of Gate 8 today in a decreasing wind and calmer sea state than the previous few days. The sky does show signs of breaking up so I am hoping for the endless drizzle and mist / fog I have been sailing in for the last 48 hours to move away too. If I am going to sail slowly then I may as well have nice conditions, then it does not seem too bad.

When I looked at the top ten skippers at the start in Les Sables d’Olonnes I never dreamt I would count among them in this race. It is like a dream. Now this race is a war of attrition but how nice it is to still be part of it.

I have shown I can do it. I’m just sailing the weather as I get the weather and trying to stay sensible. There is still a long way to go.

150 000 visitors have been on the pontoon to get up close and personal with the boats and teams as they prepare for the race start in less than two weeks. Despite the skippers being given free time this week, visitors are still queuing to get a glimpse of the machines and wander the race village stands of sponsors and local retailers. It is awesome and the fact that people were waiting about two hours to get on the pontoon is amazing. The start of the half term holidays has had great weather and the event has stirred as much excitement in mums and dads as it has the children.

With just a month to go to the start line we knew we had some jobs still to be ticked off the list. Each edition of the Vendée Globe has taught us what possible hazards there are for the yacht and skipper alike. Joff, our project manager has the knowledge of talking Conrad Humphries through his rudder change on Hellomoto, after he sustained damage to his rudder in the last race. Aviva and I are planning on carrying a spare rudder but I was keen to practise this maneuver before departure, as quite frankly the thought of the job worried me.

As the last few days of being based in the UK tick away, final preparations are being done in great detail.

The guys have worked hard on the boat and with the British weather showing a kinder side have had no hold ups and the boat is already back in the water getting ready for some more sailing.
Without a boat to sail I have been busy with media commitments both in France and the UK, with the most impressive sight being just yesterday where we managed to get all the British skippers in this year's Vendee Globe together in one place. That is no mean feat I can assure you.