GAES Centros Auditivos+

Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella head up the first female crew to take part in the Barcelona World Race. The Spanish-British duo will sail on the former Aviva, the yacht Caffari completed the most recent Vendée Globe with.

THE TEAM

Dee Caffari

Birthplace: Hertfordshire (UK)
Residence: Fareham, Hampshire (UK)
Marital Status: With partner
Age at start: 37 years old
Previous entrant in the BWR : No
Team website: www.gaesbwr.com
Personal website: www.deecaffari.com

Anna Corbella

Birthplace: Barcelona (Spain)
Residence: Barcelona (Spain)
Marital Status: Single
Age at start: 34 years old
Previous entrant in the BWR : No
Team website: www.gaesbwr.com
Personal website: www.annacorbella.com

Track record +

Dee Caffari

Round the world regattas

Vendée Globe 2008/09, (6th). Aviva (IMOCA Open 60)
Aviva Challenge 2005/06. Round the world against prevailing winds, 178 days, solo (Challenge 72)
Global Challenge 2004/05, (10th), on Imagine It (Challenge 72)

Transats

Transat Jacques Vabre 2009 (8th), with Brian Thompson, on Aviva (IMOCA Open 60) double-handed.
Artemis Transat (8th) on Aviva (IMOCA Open 60)
Transat Ecover BtoB 2007 (abandoned) on AVIVA (IMOCA Open 60)
Transat Jacques Vabre 2007 (14th) on AVIVA (IMOCA Open 60)

Other long-distance regattas:

Rolex Fastnet 2009 (5th) on AVIVA (IMOCA Open 60)
Rolex Fastnet 2007 (abandoned) on AVIVA (IMOCA Open 60)

Other racing:

Round Britain and Ireland Record, on Aviva (IMOCA Open 60) with crew: 6 days, 11 hours, 30 minutes and 53 seconds
Calais Round Britain Race 2007 (11th) on Aviva (IMOCA Open 60)
Transgascogne Bay of Biscay (8th) on Oliver Bond (Mini Class) double-handed.

The boat

GAES Centros Auditivos (GAES Hearing Centres) is Dee Caffari's former Aviva. It was conceived by the design team at Owen Clarke and built at the Hakes Marine shipyard in New Zealand. The yacht was launched in December 2007 and since then it has sailed over 60,000 miles, including the Vendee Globe 2008/09. It is a very powerful yacht and the twin of Mike Golding's Ecover. The British yachtswoman has also sailed an Artemis Transat in 2008 and the Transat Jacques Vabre 2009 with the IMOCA Open 60. Last spring, the boat underwent a comprehensive refit in Barcelona, including the re-modelling of the cockpit, with increased protection and the transfer from a steering wheel to a tiller, as well as a new handling system.

Technical Characteristics+

Designer: Owen Clarke Design LLP / Clay Oliver
Shipyard: Hakes Marine Construction, Wellington (New Zealand)
Launch: December 2007
Previous names: Aviva
Length: 18.28 m (60 feet)
Beam: 5.57m

Photo Gallery

162

News

Mails from the Skippers

06.01 - 03h48 - From the GAES girls last night

As we sail into a black abyss, we were pleased to see that a patch of sky cleared and the stars revealed themselves. Now we are confident the three kings can find us and deliver a stash of presents! Since leaving the Straits we were left feeling very tired and we have used yesterday to catch up on some sleep... More

Mails from the Skippers

05.01 - 03h17 - Dee Caffari, 'patience tried'

Freedom at last. Our patience was tried in the exit of the Med but we feel a sense of relief and breath of fresh air to be out in the Atlantic. Sail changes aside we can rest6 and recover from the hard work of the start stage of the race. I am grateful for Anna offering to swim yesterday to tyake advantage... More

Mails from the Skippers

03.01 - 21h35 - Message from Dee and Anna

Good progress to Gibraltar considering the forecast. We are happy that Africa paid off. Now as usual we approach in the dark with an unknown forecast - no change there! The Atlantic is so close I can almost touch it however the weather there does not look settled at first either. We are resting when we can and... More

Mails from the Skippers

03.01 - 03h53 - Message from the GAES Girls

We are in strong winds but we have committed ourselves to the African coast. Upwind sailing and less current but you just never know what the guys are dealing with in the north. I am looking forward to getting out of the Med but there is a lot of hard work to do before that. All happy onboard as you would... More

Mails from the Skippers

01.01 - 09h27 - Message from GAES set at 0715hrs

All good onboard. Light winds make progress difficult but we are staying with the others so we are happy. Besos, The Gaes Girls More

TEAMS

Central Lechera Asturiana

Estrella Damm Sailing Team

Mapfre

Foncia

Fòrum Marítim Català

GAES Centros Auditivos

Groupe Bel

Hugo Boss

Mirabaud

Neutrogena

Président

Renault Z.E. Sailing Team

Virbac-Paprec 3

We Are Water

Fruit