Dee Caffari finishes Artemis Transat race

by Caroline Ayling on 28 May 2008
At 15:05:34 (GMT), former PE teacher Dee Caffari crossed the finish line of the Artemis Transat race in Boston, USA. Caffari spent 16 days, 2 hours and 5 minutes competing in the world’s oldest solo yacht race. The completion of the Artemis Transat means that Caffari has technically qualified for the Vendée Globe.

Caffari said as she crossed the finish line:

‘I’m over the moon to have arrived safely in America. Aviva and I are here in one piece and I’m feeling very proud. I’m exhausted and elated at the same time - racing just takes every last emotion out of you. I’ll never forget this, it’s the first solo race I’ve completed and Aviva and I have really bonded. As with any relationship there have been highs and lows but we’re just so pleased to be here.’

The race signifies a huge personal achievement for Caffari, who competed in her new state-of-the-art Open 60 Aviva for the very first time against a strong international fleet, including French sailing legends, Loick Peyron, Vincent Riou and Michel Desjoyeaux. Unfortunately both Riou and Desjoyeaux, two of the most experience skippers in the fleet, were forced to retire having collided with sea mammals damaging their boats, demonstrating how hard it is to finish a competitive offshore race.

It was not all plain sailing for Caffari who faced electrical problems at the start of the race and struggled with the complexity of her new racing machine. The last 16 days have been an emotional rollercoaster for the 35 year-old Brit whose confidence took a few knocks but as the race progressed her tactical decision making and solo sailing skills developed.

‘There were times when I really didn’t feel I was doing the boat justice. The boys had worked so hard to make sure she was ready and at times I just couldn’t get her going. That said I’ve learnt so much along the way and feel we’re in a much stronger position now. There simply is no substitute to getting out there and racing,’ she added.

The completion of the Artemis Transat means that Caffari has technically qualified for the Vendée Globe and is one step closer to realising her ultimate goal – to become the first woman to sail solo non-stop around the world in both directions. However, Aviva is due to be fitted with a new keel later this summer and therefore Caffari is expecting IMOCA to set another ratifying passage that she must complete to ensure she can line up in Les Sables d’Olonne on 9 November.

The only remaining IMOCA 60 competitor still out on the racecourse is Steve White onboard Spirit of Weymouth and is expected to reach Boston in the early hours of the morning. White is a tribute to the fact that anybody can achieve their dream, provided they are bold enough. He and his wife laid every penny they own on the line, re-mortgaged the house to purchase the boat (ex-Josh Hall's Gartmore) so White can follow his dream of sailing non-stop around the world in the up and coming Vendée Globe.

IMOCA Fleet results

Boat name / skipper name / finish time / date / elapsed time / time difference to 1st place

1 - Gitana Eighty (Loick Peyron) 03:15:35 GMT 24.5.08 12d 11h 45m 35s

2 - Brit Air (Armel Le Cleac'h) 08:28:40 GMT 24.5.08 12d 19h 28m 40s [difference to 1st place 7h 43m 05s]

3- Generali (Yann Elies) 04:00:22 GMT 25/05/08 / 13d 15h 00m 22s
[difference to 1st place 1d 3h 14m 47s]

4 - Safran (Marc Guillemot) 10:18:47 GMT 26/5/08 14d 21h 18m 47s
(avera ge speed 8.32 knots / difference to 1st place 2d 9h 33m 12s)

5 - Roxy (Samantha Davies) 23:00:51 GMT 26/5/08 15d 10h 00m 51s (average speed 8.04 knots / difference to 1st place 2d 22h 15m 16s)

6 - Cervin ENR (Yannick Bestaven) 03:31:17 GMT 27/5/08 15d 14h 31m 17s (average speed 7.94 knots / difference to 1st place 3d 2h 45m 42s)

7 - Akena Vérandas (Arnaud Boissieres) 05:00:03 GMT 27/5/08 15d 16h 00m 3s (average speed 7.91 knots / difference to 1st place 3d 4h 14m 28s)

8 - Aviva (Dee Caffari) 15:05:34 GMT 27/5/08 16d 2h 5m 34s (average speed 7.70 knots / difference to 1st place 3d 14h 19m 59s)