Team SCA, great navigator Dee Caffari joins in extremis

Only she was missing. British sailor Dee Caffari, one of the most well-known and experienced athletes in women’s ocean sailing, has joined Team SCA’s crew for the 2014/15 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. The 41-year-old, originally from Watford, England, was confirmed along with American Sara Hastreiter and Swiss Elodie-Jane Mettraux. The three female sailors are the latest additions to the first all-female crew to participate in round-the-world sailing since 2001/02.

THE LEGENDARY DEE…

Dee Caffari undoubtedly brings a wealth of experience to the team, having raced in events such as the Vendée Globe, the Global Challenge, the Barcelona World Race and no less than four transatlantic races. She is the only woman who has sailed around the world in both directions (east and west) and the only sailor who has completed the non-stop round trip three times. In addition, Dee Caffari holds the women’s speed record for the Round Britain and Ireland race, achieved in 2009 with a team that included crewmate Sam Davies with a time of six days, 11 hours and 30 minutes. “I am looking forward to sailing around the world again. The best aspect of this project is working with a group of exceptional girls with a common goal,” said Caffari.

…AND THE OTHERS.
Elodie-Jane Mettraux, 29, winner of the special non-professional title in the 2012 Tour de France a la Voile, is one of the under-30s on the team, as Sara Hastreiter, also 29 years old, but who can draw on extensive ocean experience having sailed more than 40,000 miles during her career and having participated in many major events in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

THAT “PINK” DOZEN
Dee Caffari, Sara Hastreiter and Elodie-Jane Mettraux, whose sister Justine is on the team, bring the total number of female sailors on Team SCA to 12, after a selection process that lasted a full 18 months. The other athletes are Sally Barkow (USA), Carolijn Brouwer (Netherlands), Sophie Ciszek (Australia), Sam Davies (UK), Abby Ehler (UK), Stacey Jackson (Australia), Annie Lush (UK), Justine Mettraux (Switzerland) and Liz Wardley (Australia). As defined by the event rules only 11 will be allowed to sail and one will be reserve.

FUTURE PROGRAMS
Team SCA,which is headquartered on the island of Lanzarote, has scheduled two Atlantic crossings in May as a refinement to its preparation for the start of the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race in October from Alicante.

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