One Month to Go Before the Vendée Globe - Dee
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.
I am delighted that in the autumn sunshine we successfully removed and replaced our rudder, stress free. Of course we then had to do the job again to put the original rudder back in place, but the confidence it has given me has made the whole procedure worthwhile. I did have assistance and I know that the job alone is much more difficult, but at least now I know how to do it and have experience.
Final packing of spares and stores for the race will be put onboard Aviva tomorrow and then we are ready to depart for France. The current plan is to head off this weekend.
- Dee Caffari
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Dee and Aviva leave for France
Yesterday Aviva, and I, and some of the team sailed off into the sunset. It was a romantic scenario at this stage but the time leading up to this had been busy. The final hours involved loading up Aviva with her food and spares we have put together for the Vendee Globe Race. It is always difficult to try to think through every scenario of what could happen out at sea but that is exactly what Joff has been doing. He has then made sure I have the spares to deal with every job that presents itself to me. It took a few pairs of hands to load the boat as there are a lot of bags and boxes, but this is also the amount I need to move each time I tack or gybe Aviva, along with the stack of sails in the sail locker. All these extra parts to racing an Open 60 makes me realise just how busy life will be onboard for the duration of the race. There will never be a dull moment.
- Dee
Dee, Aviva and the boys arrive in France
Having narrowly missed the tide to allow us through the channel leading to Port Olona in Les Sables D'Olonne yesterday afternoon, Aviva, I and the boys killed time with a delivered pizza and waited for the next tide. This meant that Aviva and the team were safely ensconced in the Race Village in the early hours of the morning. With five boats already in the race village and more arriving everyday there is a real buzz about the place.
The trip down was a quiet delivery with very kind weather. We made easy miles and did some testing with charging and fuel consumption as we are now down to the fine details of what exactly will go with me on the race. Harry, Martin and Coralie met us in the RIB and took our lines on the dock. They had arrived with our bags, the van and RIB. It was a great feeling to finally have arrived in this Mecca and make the Vendée Globe Race real.
- Dee
Alex on Hugo Boss
The buzz of the race village was hushed this morning as the sad news about Hugo Boss reached the teams. In the early hours of the morning, outside the harbour whilst waiting for the tide, a fishing vessel collided with Hugo Boss. Alex Thomson's Open 60 was dismasted and suffered severe damage to the starboard side of the hull.
They are now in the commercial port of Les Sables D'Olonne and assessing the extent of the damage and considering their options. There has been a huge amount of support for Alex and his team and we all have our fingers crossed that he will get to the start line in a few weeks time.
I actually felt sick when I heard the news, I am devastated for Alex. He has worked hard at being very well prepared for this race. His boat was ready and he was ready. It is sad news but if anyone can bounce back from this, I am confident he can and the Aviva team are willing to help where we can.
With the official opening of the race village on Saturday 18th October, the final few boats are arriving. The weather has been glorious and everyone is very excited at meeting the public for the first weekend. Everything now seems very real for me as I walk along the pontoon to the boat looking at the other boats of the rock stars and seeing Aviva on the same dock is absolutely awesome.
- Dee
Aviva's last sail before her maiden voyage around the world
Aviva went sailing from Port Olona today. We left the dock at 1000hrs and returned just before 1500hrs as the tide would allow no longer. The weather was glorious with a blue sky, weak sunshine and 12knots from the north, North West. It would have been perfect conditions to have started the race, except for the team I had onboard with me. The harsh reality is that the next time
Aviva goes sailing she will be sailing around the world. My tummy flipped as I realised the next time I hoist the main will be for the real thing. There are no more chances for practise, no more time for training sails. We are now at the time for the action, it is very exciting.
The jobs list may not be getting much shorter but we are definitely getting to smaller jobs and the team around me seems relaxed which is helping calm any nerves I may be getting. I am spending time each day looking at the weather and using the new meteo software programme I have for the race so my confidence can build. I am also enjoying signing posters and meeting the thousands of visitors we have to the boat and race village each day.
- Dee Caffari
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