TWO of the best yachts-women in the world are teaming up in a bid to sail into the record books – and to prove the mighty force of girl power.
Two months since they became household names finding glory in the Vendée Globe round the world race, Hampshire solo sailors Dee Caffari and Sam Davies have put together an all-girl crew in a bid to smash the Round Britain and Ireland record.
Dee became the first woman to sail solo around the world in both directions when she completed the 30,000-mile Vendee Globe race in February, while Sam sailed into the record books in fourth place as only the second British woman to complete the round the world race.
Speaking at the launch of their record attempt yesterday, Dee said: “Sailing with other people has been the hardest thing to get used to for me – I have to keep telling myself I don’t have to do every last thing.
Wealth of experience “It’s really nice having the wealth of experience I have onboard, and I have the utmost trust in all the girls.”
Dee, from Titchfield, will skipper the yacht while Sam will be responsible for making sure the boat is going quickly.
Sam, from Hamble, added: “I’ve been looking forward to this challenge since finishing the Vendée Globe. June is here and it’s time to do some record breaking.”
The pair will be joined on Dee’s 60ft ocean racing yacht Aviva by Hamble’s Miranda Merron and Alex Sizer, along with French sailor Isabelle Joschke.
They will be aiming to break the current record of seven days and four hours, as well as Davies’ own record for the quickest all-girl crew of ten days and 16 hours. The team is now waiting for the right weather conditions before they set sail on the challenge.
“It sounds crazy but we’re doing wind dances every day so this lovely weather goes away and we can have a bit of wind,” Dee added.
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