5:58 PM Tue 4 Nov 2008 GMT
British yachtswoman Dee Caffari has begun the final countdown to the start of the world's toughest solo yacht race, the Vend?e Globe 2008/09. The excitement in the race village is growing daily as next Sunday, 9 November, Caffari lines up against 29 of the world's best solo sailors to take on 27,000 miles of ocean alone.
Caffari, although making her Vend?e Globe debut, has a wealth of experience of battling the storms and depressions widespread in the treacherous Southern Ocean. She has accumulated over 200 days sailing in this hostile region on previous voyages. The main difference is that this time she will be sailing with the winds and currents, on a state-of-the-art carbon fibre yacht, so life will be in the fast lane.
Speaking ahead of the race start Caffari said:
'I've been preparing for the Vend?e Globe with the shore team for two years and it's a strange feeling that Aviva and I will cross the start line on Sunday.
It's going to be a pretty full on week with all of the jobs on the boat, media interviews and, of course, saying my goodbyes to family, friends and supporters! I think as the week goes by I will just want to get going. One thing is for sure, the start line as it is going to be spectacular with 30 Open 60s and an expected 15,000 spectators on the water.'
Caffari has prepared for the competitive race having spent the last 18 months developing her skills in the Open 60 class. She has focused on the physical and mental preparations required for a non-stop solo circumnavigation with help from Leeds Metropolitan University's expert sports scientists and psychologists.
Whilst Caffari's shore team are busy making the final tweaks to Aviva, she has refined the music selection on her iPod to cover all moods and possible environments.
Caffari added:
'I've got different songs for different times in the race. When I've had a great day and the sun is shining then I tend to listen to some fun music like S Club 7 or Elvis. There's some Amy Winehouse and Nickleback amongst the selection of 2,100 songs and, of course, Robbie Williams. He was a favourite on the Aviva Challenge so I can't go around the world without him again!'
The Vend?e Globe race starts at 12:02 (GMT) on Sunday 9 November. There will be 30 Open 60 boats taking part, the largest race fleet to date. There are seven British skippers in this year's edition, including the only two women competing, Dee Caffari and Samantha Davies.
by Caroline Ayling
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