Caffarri wins award

Westabout circumnavigator becomes 2006 Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year

This afternoon over a fine luncheon at the Painted Gallery within the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich, Dee Caffarri was announced as the 2006 winner of the Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year award - making it a double for the ladies, following Katie Miller becoming Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year.

The British round the world sailing heroine was presented won this annual award, following her entering the history books last year when she became the first woman to sail singlehanded, non-stop around the world against prevailing winds and currents.

For Caffarri the challenge was a longheld ambition. Having fulfilled her desire to be involved in round the world yacht racing by skippering a yacht in the Global Challenge, she set sail her singlehanded westabout circumnavigation, the Aviva Challenge - completing the arduous passage in 178 days.



Dee with venerable yachting journalist Bob Fisher and Lady Pippa Blake

After some rummaging around for the 'envelope', Lady Pippa Blake, wife of the late Sir Peter Blake (winner in 1994) finally presented Caffarri with the trophy. Now in its 51st year, the trophy was first presented by Sir Max Aitken in 1955 and has previously been won by many of the top icons in UK sailing: Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir Chay Blyth, Sir Edward Heath and Tracy Edwards, together with Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie who have both won the award twice.

Other finalists for the award this year were 470 World Champions Nic Asher and Elliot Willis, who were the first British team to win the World title in this highly competitive Olympic class since 1988; and Steve Curtis, who has won an unbelievable eight Class 1 World Championships and is considered the best international powerboat racer of all time - Steve is a previous Raymarine/YJA Yachtsman of the Year Award winner.

Following nominations by the general public and Royal Yachting Association affiliated clubs, the winner was selected by the voting of the Yachting Journalists Association members.

Thedailysail congratulates Dee on her award. More news from Dee this Thursday when she announces plans for her next project.