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12:56 PM Fri 26 Dec 2008 GMT
Christmas delivered for Dee Caffari yesterday as the British yachtswoman broke into the top ten of the Vendee Globe fleet for the first time.
During yesterday's festivities Caffari was sailing hard and Aviva overtook fellow Brit Brian Thompson onboard Bahrain Team Pindar as she recorded the fastest 24 hour run in the fleet - over 389 miles. Her average speed reached over 15 knots as she became the fastest boat of the remaining 18 competitors in the race.
This is Caffari's debut Vendee Globe and the first time that she has entered the top ten, an unbelievable achievement for the solo skipper who is obviously revelling in the sunny Southern Ocean conditions. Helped by some moral boosting Christmas presents and speaking with her friends and family, Caffari is now heading towards the New Zealand ice gate and will look to capitalise on her new position.
Dee's latest diary received on Thursday 25 December at 18H45 GMT:
'Somebody was smiling at me for today as the sun shone, the sky was blue even the sea was blue and a steady 20 knots allowed Christmas Day to be enjoyable down here. I gybed at midnight, stacked the boat then opened my presents and prepared my freeze-dried Christmas Dinner.
'Well what more can a girl ask for? Clean knickers, chocolate and smellies. After a good baby wipe session I put on my Christmas knickers, changed my base layer and felt like a new woman. The smellies will have to wait until I am in the Atlantic again and the water is warm enough for them to be used!
My Christmas dinner was absolutely delicious. I was surprised and then after devouring it disappointed to know that it was a one off from the company, Fuzion. I shall definitely be talking to them when I get back as I was so impressed and recommend it for all those that spent ages preparing the dinner at home and then had relentless amounts of washing up to do. This is real food in a packet, boil the kettle, add hot water, stir and wait ten minutes and magic. The only washing is a spoon as the packet goes in the bin! No wonder I get sent to sea for Christmas!
'I did spend time speaking to friends and family and it was great to know they were all well, For my family, they couldn't believe how far I had come in a short space of time as during the Aviva Challenge I spent Christmas between the Falkland Islands and Cape Horn and was yet to enter the Southern Ocean.
'So the day finished with a chat on the VHF. The last time the VHF heard voices was in the Atlantic and yet here was Brian Thompson calling me. I answered and then realised that he was about a mile and a half to leeward of me. It was a real treat for Christmas to have sailed all these thousands of miles and be alongside another boat talking to someone that I could almost see. He had just finished tackling his repairs and done a fantastic job so he was ready to tidy up and get sailing again. He was still to sleep and do his Christmas thing so I wished him well and was grateful to be so close to someone at this time despite being solo racing.'
'Happy Christmas to all.'
Dee and Aviva
Vendee Globe - 04:00 HRS GMT. Friday 26 December 2008 (FRA unless stated)
1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at + 10315.1 miles to the finish
2. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at + 119.8 miles
3. Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) at + 169 miles
4. Seb Josse (BT) at + 169.3 miles
5. Vincent Riou (PRB) at + 367.7 miles
Selected International
8. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 1516.9 miles
10. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 1979.2 miles
11. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 2015.8 miles
13. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 2733.8 miles
14. Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 3293.9 miles
15. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) at + 3371.7 miles
16. Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 3498.9 miles
18. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport.Kapsch) + 4352.9 miles
by Caroline Ayling
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Cape Leeuwin, WA
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