Vendee Globe: Aviva has Champagne breaky

1:53 PM Mon 8 Dec 2008 GMT

'Dee Caffari onboard Aviva, Vendee Globe 2008' Aviva Ocean Racing Click Here to view large photo

Dee Caffari was lying in 16th place in the Vend?e Globe fleet as she enjoyed a champagne breakfast to celebrate crossing the line of longitude for the Cape of Good Hope (18? 28' 19? E).

Dee Caffari writes on Monday 8 December at 08H15 GMT

'Well thanks to Champagne Mumm I enjoyed a champagne breakfast onboard Aviva as we crossed the line of longitude for the Cape of Good Hope. We are now in the Indian Ocean and our next milestone will be the next Ice Gate.

'Light winds slowed the progress to the first of the three great capes and a calm night gave way to some great sleep. I am pleased to say that the breeze has now started to return so progress can be made and hopefully I have not lost too many miles to the fleet as I enjoyed the sleep and the champagne. I also toasted my Mum for her birthday as I popped the cork.'

Meanwhile, the day before :'It has been a very 'Jack Johnson' Sunday. Steady and consistent. The sky began blue and the seas huge again with gusts of 30 knots and above.As the afternoon has crept forward the wind has eased and the waves have reduced, although the blue sky has been lost to Southern Ocean grey with complete cloud cover. This has rapidly reduced the temperature although my northing course before the gybe has taken me to slightly warmer sea temperatures.

'It is my Mum's birthday tomorrow so as a treat I washed my hair before I called her to wish her birthday greetings. It made me feel a lot better and also I thought my Mum would approve. It is a celebration for her birthday and for crossing the longitude of the first Great Cape. Significant events always happen on my Mum's birthday; on the Aviva Challenge I crossed the equator and this year it is the Cape of Good Hope.'

www.avivaoceanracing.com
www.vendeeglobe.com

by Dee Caffari