Today, Aviva, the UK ’s largest insurance group, announced a new partnership with Dee Caffari as the racing team’s founding partner. Following four successful years as title sponsor of the world record-breaking yachtswoman, Aviva will be reducing its investment but retaining a close relationship with Caffari who will continue to act as a brand ambassador for the company.
Dee Caffari is now actively searching for a new title sponsor to support her next Vendée Globe campaign.
Aviva has supported Dee Caffari to three world records since 2005, including the Aviva Challenge and the gruelling 2008/9 Vendée Globe race. Having completed both circumnavigations, Caffari became the first woman to sail solo, non stop, around the world in both directions. More recently, Caffari and her all-female crew broke the mono-hull speed record around Britain and Ireland aboard her Open 60 racing yacht, Aviva.
Sarah Loughran, Head of Corporate Sponsorship at Aviva commented:
“We’ve achieved some fantastic results with Dee over the last four years and Aviva is proud to be part of her team. Whilst we are reducing our involvement we want to retain a long term relationship and continue to be a part of Dee ’s amazing journey towards her next attempt to win the Vendée Globe.”
The new partnership will enable Dee Caffari to compete in the last race of the season, the Transat Jacques Vabre, a 4,800 mile two-handed race from France to Costa Rica . Joining Caffari onboard Aviva will be fellow Brit and Vendée Globe race rival Brian Thompson.
Dee Caffari added:
‘Aviva and I have built up a strong relationship over the years and I am delighted that their support will enable me to compete in the last race of the year while I look for a new title sponsor. The opportunity to sail with Brian Thompson as my co-skipper is fantastic. We were so close during the Vendée Globe we almost feel we have sailed together already. We’re determined to put in a great British performance..”
In May 2006 solo yachtswoman Dee Caffari, became the first woman to sail around the world non-stop against the prevailing winds and currents in her yacht ‘Aviva’. Caffari sailed 29,227 miles triumphing over extreme isolation, lethal icebergs, mountainous waves, vicious storms and hurricane force winds to set a new world record in a time of 178 days, 3 hours, 6 minutes and 15 seconds.
Vendée Globe 2008/9
At 13:13 (GMT) on 16 February 2009, Dee Caffari completed a double world first by crossing the official finish line of the Vendée Globe yacht race after 99 days to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop both ways around the world.
Round Britain and Ireland Record
On 22nd June 2009 Dee Caffari and an all female crew, including fellow British yachtswoman and Vendée Globe race rival Samantha Davies set a new record for sailing around Britain and Ireland – 6 days, 11 hours, 30 minutes and 53 seconds. This was 17 hours and 16 minutes ahead of the previous record set in May 2004 onboard Solune.
Brian Thompson
Finishing fifth in the last Vendée Globe onboard Bahrain Team Pindar, this British yachtsman exudes quiet determination. Brian Thompson has an exceptional ability to adapt to a variety of circumstances and knows how to get the most out of everything that floats.
Brian has become a key crew member on a large number of both mono-hull and multi-hull boats and among his many achievements are the Oryx Quest 2005, taking the role of watch leader on the round the world record in 2004 on Cheyenne and the Columbus Route the previous year on PlayStation.
In recent years, Brian has sailed a great deal with his compatriot Mike Golding and raced the Artemis Challenge and the Rolex Fastnet race this summer with Dee Caffari and her crew onboard Aviva, finishing 5th in both events. Rightly considered one of the most experienced sailors on the international scene and holder of 25 sailing records, Brian will be looking forward to joining forces with Dee and racing with her rather than against her.
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