| UK. Edson steering system flawless in Dee Caffari’s solo east to west non-stop circumnavigation |
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| Wednesday, 24 May 2006 | |
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Company news: Dee Caffari, 32, has become the first woman to sail solo “east to west” around the world, against the prevailing winds and currents. Ms. Caffari completed her voyage in a 72’ Challenge class yacht equipped with Edson Steering Gear. Former school teacher Caffari sailed the 72-foot yacht AVIVA, from the Lizard, UK / Ushant, France starting line in the English Channel on Nov. 21, 2005, returning May 18, 2006. Her circumnavigation took 178 days, with approximately 80 days spent in the treacherous Southern Ocean. She had previously skippered the yacht, with a crew of 18, in the Global Challenge 2004/05. Ms. Caffari was sponsored by Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group and race-managed by The Challenge Business, a market leader in creating, managing and promoting World Class events, founded by legendary yachtsman Sir Chay Blyth. “With over 3 million miles sailed using the Edson Steering gear on the Challenge Yachts we had every confidence that the system used on a yacht normally crewed by 18 would be up to the job of getting a single person around the world in the toughest of conditions,” said Alistair Hackett, Logistics Director, Challenge Business. “The Aviva Challenge is the 51st Challenge prepared to sail through the Southern Ocean to windward and during this trip the yacht consistently experienced the worst weather we have ever seen in the Southern Ocean. This final sailing ‘Everest’ is now conquered and Edson Steering Gear has had a major part in that.” Although the yacht was modified so that a dual, hydraulic autopilot system could be fitted, there were no modifications done to the standard Edson steering system apart from fitting a clutch on the wheel hub to allow the wheel to freewheel when the autopilot was driving the yacht. Edson Steering Gear was first used on the Challenge 67’ fleet of yachts in 1990. Following detailed discussions with The Challenge Business Ltd. after the original British Steel Challenge, Edson developed a true Blue Water steering system for the Challenge Yachts that raced in the 1996 BT Global Challenge. Since the steering system is considered to be one of the most important systems on a boat, the system was developed to increase the working times between servicing and to create a bullet-proof solution to allow the worlds largest one-design yachts to sail around the world the ‘wrong way’. The first fleet of yachts, 16 in total, completed 26 circumnavigations against the prevailing winds and currents, two of which were single handed. The Challenge 72 class of yacht developed in 1999 has now completed 25 circumnavigations without any steering problems. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 May 2006 ) |
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