© © Royal Southampton Yacht Club 2008

ROYAL SOUTHAMPTON YACHT CLUB

The start of the Vendée Globe 2008/09 yacht race is only 63 days away and on Monday at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, Royal Southampton's Dee Caffari had her Open 60 yacht Aviva blessed by celebrity godparents ahead of the gruelling round the world race.

Fellow RSYC member, Lady Pippa Blake, widow of celebrated sailor and Dee ’s long-time inspiration Sir Peter Blake, and French news presenter Patrick
Poivre d’Arvor wished Aviva and the solo yachtswoman a safe passage during the Vendée Globe.

If she completes the Vendée Globe, Dee will make history by becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world in both directions. The
solo skipper wanted to adopt the longstanding French tradition of appointing godparents to support her Open 60 racing yacht.

Lady Pippa Blake, said: "I’m delighted and honoured to be Aviva’s godmother. The Vendée Globe is one
of the toughest ocean races, and I wish Dee and Aviva the best of luck in completing the race and setting a new world record. Dee is a really
inspirational woman and it gives me great pleasure to bless such a magnificent yacht. I know my husband would be proud of her, and would wish
both Dee and the boat a safe passage around the globe.’'

Dee and Aviva also have a godparent from the other side of the English Channel, as one of France’s best known news presenters Patrick Poivre
d’Arvor (affectionately known as ‘PPDA’), who lent his support. The broadcaster will be the official
starter of the Vendée Globe, on Sunday, November 9. He will fire the gun to set the 30-strong fleet on its way around the world. The Frenchman wished Dee success in completing the race which has only
been won by his own countrymen since it’s inauguration in 1989.

Dee said: "It’s been wonderful to celebrate Aviva today, she’s such a powerful and commanding racing yacht and to have her blessed by Lady Pippa Blake and Patrick Poivre d’Arvor is a great honour. These last few weeks I’ve been getting miles under my belt and testing Aviva ahead of the Vendée Globe.

"We’ve really bonded and I’m excited at the prospect of getting over to the start in France. I hope having Patrick on the start line in Les Sable d’Olonne will give Aviva and me some extra luck!’

To celebrate the blessing by Lady Pippa Blake and Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, Dee chose to perform a ceremonial sabrage with the boat’s two guardians.
The sabrage is a ceremonial display whereby the cork of a champagne bottle is extravagantly removed by swiping the bottle with a sword. Dee learnt the art of sabrage when invited earlier this year by Mumm Champagne to join the new Cordon Rouge Club, a revered group of adventurers and explorers.

Aviva’s godparents performed the ritual on the foredeck as they gave the state of the art yacht their blessing. The trio were joined by Philip Scott,
chief financial officer of Aviva, the world’s fifth largest savings, investments and insurance company who have supported Dee and her team since her first record breaking voyage, the Aviva Challenge, in 2005.