For her next challenge, Dee will be drafting in some girl power as she attempts to break the speed record for sailing around Britain and Ireland. Dee will be joined onboard her yacht Aviva by an all female crew, including fellow British yachtswoman and Vendée Globe race rival Samantha Davies.
Starting and finishing in Portsmouth, the route is almost 2500 nautical miles around the British coastline featuring some of the world’s most technical waters with ever-changing weather conditions, tidal flows and adverse land effects. Extra vigilance will be needed throughout the record attempt for shipping and other obstructions such as oil rigs in the North Sea.
Dee commented:
“It’s been over two months since the end of the Vendée Globe, so I am really looking forward to being reunited with Aviva and getting back out on the water. Although I haven’t sailed with a crew for a while, I think it will be great to have some company for this record attempt”
The current outright record to sail around Britain and Ireland in a monohull yacht stands at 7 days 4 hours and was set in May 2004 onboard Solune. The record for an all female crew stands at 10 days and 16 hours, which was set by Sam Davies and her crew onboard Roxy in June 2007. With the potential to break two records, Dee and the crew of Aviva will be waiting for ideal weather conditions before setting off.
Joining Dee and Sam will be fellow Brits, offshore sailor Miranda Merron and boat captain Alex Sizer, Figaro sailor Isabelle Joschke and freelance journalist Johanna Payton. The all female crew will be setting out in June but are waiting for the best weather window before deciding on an exact start date. To see how Dee and her crew get on log onto www.avivaoceanracing.com for the most up to date news.