Dee Caffari, the British yachtswoman who made history by becoming the first woman to sail solo, non stop both ways around the world, has set off in her attempt to break the record for sailing around Britain and Ireland. Caffari is joined onboard her racing yacht Aviva by an all female crew, including fellow British yachtswoman and Vendée Globe race rival Samantha Davies, for the record attempt.

The team left the dock in Gosport yesterday evening and are aiming to break the current outright record of 7 days 4 hours set in May 2004 onboard Solune. Another record in their sights is for an all female crew, which stands at 10 days and 16 hours recorded by Samantha Davies and her crew onboard Roxy in June 2007. The voyage will be ratified by the World Speed Sailing Council who will monitor the Aviva’s progress around Britain and Ireland.

The route is almost 2500 nautical miles around the British coastline and features some of the world’s most technical waters with ever-changing weather conditions, strong tidal flows and adverse land effects. Extra vigilance will also be needed throughout the record attempt for shipping and other obstructions such as oil rigs in the North Sea.