Against the Flow The inspiring story of a teacher turned record-breaking yachtswoman

by Caffari, Dee; Cracknell, James

• ISBN13: 9780713685336
• ISBN10: 0713685336
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-09-03
• Publisher: Adlard Coles

Summary

WITH A FOREWORD BY JAMES CRACKNELL In 2006, Dee Caffari became the first woman to sail solo round the world against the prevailing winds and currents. Her story is an adventure in the true sense of the word. It is about physical hardship in terrible conditions, overcoming solitude, sleep deprivation, the worry of crucial equipment failing, 34 days of gales, 12 metre waves, cyclones and a lightning strike. It is also about a woman who stepped outside her safe zone, gave up a good job and financial security, all because she wanted to sail. She dared to dream, and her courage resulted in a place in the history books alongside a handful of men. More people have walked on the moon than have successfully completed a westabout circumnavigation, and in this inspirational book Dee shares the story of her journey from beginner to record breaker. 'I feel I have been preparing for this my whole life. This is my dream. To be the first woman to sail the globe single-handed, westabout. It's twice as long and twice as hard. We can do more than we think we can. We just have to dare to dream.' Dee Caffari 'Dee has inspired the imagination of a worldwide audience. She has joined only four men who have achieved this feat. Other women may follow, but she will always remain the first.' Sir Chay Blyth

Author Biography

After an early career as a secondary school PE teacher, Dee Caffari realised that her destiny was a life on the water. She gave up her job and worked with Mike Golding Yacht Racing, completing a number of offshore races. During the 2004/5 Global Challenge Race, Dee successfully skippered 18 amateur yachtsmen around the world and in the same 72ft yacht, Aviva, she completed her record-breaking circumnavigation, finishing on 18 May 2006.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vii
Preface	p. viii
A Voyage of Extremes	p. 1
Dreams and Ambitions	p. 4
Saying Goodbye	p. 12
Finding My Bearings	p. 19
Turbulent Times	p. 31
In It Together	p. 39
Our Little World	p. 47
What a Result	p. 52
Sir Chay Sets a Challenge	p. 61
Ready to Go Again	p. 68
Going It Alone	p. 79
Crossed Wires	p. 89
Welcome to Cape Horn	p. 98
The Loneliest Place in the World	p. 107
Sick With Exhaustion	p. 116
The Epiphany	p. 127
Goodbye to the South	p. 137
Hot and Bothered	p. 144
Stop and Go	p. 152
Coming Home	p. 159
Epilogue	p. 165
Aviva's route around the world	p. 168
Aviva Challenge 72ft Class Yacht	p. 170
Aviva's design and modifications: Andrew Roberts, Aviva Challenge Project Director	p. 173
The Aviva Challenge technical support: Alistair Hackett, Aviva Challenge Logistics Director	p. 176
Technical specification of Aviva	p. 178
Acknowledgements and Photo Credits	p. 181
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