On Thursday 15 February the Mayor of Gosport, Councillor June Cully, will welcome yachtswoman Dee Caffari into the Mayors Parlour, to offer her heartfelt congratulations on her fantastic achievement.
Dee, who left Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth at 13:49:29 GMT on Monday 21 November 2005, went on to set a new world record to become the first woman to sail single-handedly, non-stop around the globe, against the prevailing winds and currents. Dee arrived back at Ocean Village, Southampton, at 16:55:03 GMT on Sunday 21 May after spending nearly six months at sea alone. On arrival, Dee was tired but jubilant, having successfully completed the Aviva Challenge.
With her local ties and connections, Dee was obviously in the hearts and minds of many local people. Everyone was watching the news and reading the papers for updates on her journey and to know that she was safe. Taking even more of an interest were pupils of Alverstoke Junior School, who not only watched the media for information but logged onto the website to follow every nautical mile!
It is these youngsters the Mayor has invited to meet with Dee and chat about her wonderful voyage - all 29,297 miles - at a small reception being held in the Mayors Parlour.
“The whole country is extremely proud of Dee and her incredible achievements but she does hold a special place in the hearts of Gosport people,” said the Mayor, Councillor June Cully. “To undertake such a journey in company is a challenge, but to do that single-handedly and to choose to go against the winds and tides is an incredible thing to do. We were extremely disappointed not be able to welcome her back here to Gosport from her voyage, but now we can welcome her back, be it late, and the children who followed her journey so closely are, to me, the ideal ambassadors to be her welcoming committee.”
The record set by Dee was 178 days 3 hours 5 minutes and 34 seconds, truly amazing when you consider she was not only the first women to achieve this success, but one of only five people ever to have succeeded.
