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Dee Caffari and her co skipper, Anna Corbella, ready for the challenge of the Barcelona World Race
On Wednesday 26th May, Dee and her co skippper for the Barcelona World Race, Anna Corbella, revealed their new look IMOCA Open 60 GAES Centros Auditivos. The launch took place at the Reial Club Marítim de Barcelona and caused much interest with the Spanish press as both sailors will make up the only all-female crew taking part in the race, which celebrates its second edition and leaves Barcelona on 31st December 2010. On successful completion of the 46,300 km race, Anna Corbella will become the first Spanish female to circumnavigate the globe non stop.
Standing on the dockside next to her Open 60, Dee said, “With the support of Aviva and my team, I was fortunate to have been given a similar opportunity to the one Anna now has. I am delighted to be sharing my experiences and be part of the team that will help Anna continue to progress in the competitive environment of sailing around the world.” During the event, Anna Corbella expressed her "great vision", saying: "It is the first time I will participate in a race around the world. Dee and I are keen to show that women and men compete as equals on the water."
Also present at the launch was Spanish synchronized swimmer and world champion gold medalist, Gemma Mengual, who was announced as Godmother to GAES Centros Auditivos and wished good luck to both of the crew members, emphasizing the increasingly important role of women in sport.
To view the launch images and video log onto www.deecaffari.com
Antonio Gassó, Director General and CEO of GAES, a leader in hearing aids, said: “This new sponsorship is a further step in linking the company to the world of sport and more specifically that of ocean sailing with which we strongly identify. As a company we share the values associated with the sport of sailing, such as teamwork, achievement and effort." For more information on GAES log onto www.gaes.es/en
In five years as her title sponsor, Aviva supported Dee Caffari to three world records including becoming the first woman to sail solo, non stop, around the world in both directions. As Founding Partner, Aviva is proud to remain a member of the team behind Dee Caffari's 2012/13 Vendée Globe campaign. For more Information Aviva log onto www.aviva.com
other newsWelcome to a new member of the Dee Caffari Racing team
With the jobs list ever lengthening and a busy summer ahead of them, Dee has recruited a new team member to assist with the boat preparations. Scott Gray will take up a position with us as rigger from the beginning of June until the start of the Barcelona World Race. Before joining Dee Caffari Racing, Scott was responsible for Team Russia’s spars, standing rigging and running rigging for the 2008/9 Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) and went on to work with the Telefonica VOR team from Singapore until the race finish. Previously, he has worked for both Formula Spars and Southern Spars as well as acting as boat captain and skipper on the Farr 45 ‘John Merricks
.’ Before joining Team Russia for the VOR, Scott worked for the Open 60 Hugo Boss where he was rigger for almost three years.
Scott was something of a 420 star in his youth, three times winning the 420 Scottish National Championships. He went on to take 1st place in the Student Tour Voile in 2002. Other notable sailing achievements as trimmer or bowman include successes in Rolex Farr Worlds 2001, America’s Cup Jubilee 2001, Rolex Fastnet 2005, Rolex Maxi World Championships 2004 and 2005, Voiles des St Tropez 2004, Rolex Sydney Hobart 2005, Key West 2007.
His worst moment sailing was the mast falling down on Hugo Boss 2000nm from Cape Horn (chain plate failure). His best moment however was rounding Cape Horn at 21 knots under jury rig and sailing with Team Russia as bowman on leg 3.
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