this is Dee's story...
Dee Caffari was awarded an MBE in recognition of her solo circumnavigation against the prevailing winds and currents, setting a world record in the process by becoming the first woman to complete this epic voyage in 2006.
In 2009 Dee completed the Vendée Globe – a solo, non-stop race around the world. Dee crossed the finish line in 6th place out of the 30 starters making her the only woman to have sailed single-handed, non-stop around the world in both directions.
In April 2011, Dee successfully completed another circumnavigation, this time with a Spanish co- skipper. On completion of the Barcelona World Race Dee became the only woman to have sailed three times around the world non-stop.
In 2014, Dee joined Team SCA, the all-female entry into the Volvo Ocean Race. In preparation for this race around the world, the team successfully claimed the Round Britain and Ireland speed record for a female crewed monohull in 4 days 21 hours and 39 seconds.
A former secondary school teacher of Physical Education, Dee decided after five years of teaching to change careers. With a desire for adventure, travel and experiencing new environments, Dee set her sights on the marine industry. Seeing the 2000/01 Global Challenge fleet return home after their impressive race was the catalyst for Dee's next goal. In 2004, Dee had secured her place as the only female skipper in the fleet to race in the Global Challenge race.
A natural team leader, the crewed round the world race dealt with man management, conflict management and also the extreme highs and lows encountered with success and failure on a race lasting ten months. Rather than acting as a deterrent to Dee, this spurred her on to push her boundaries yet again. It was just four months later that Dee set off again to attempt her pioneering voyage - the Aviva Challenge, solo, non-stop around the world against the prevailing winds and currents.
As an enthusiast of testing personal limitations and living outside her comfort zone, Dee is always up for a challenge. The most extreme has been the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge. This involved Dee leading an all female team over 6500km of rugged terrain using the four disciplines of trekking, running, cycling and kayaking.
Dee is actively involved in a number of charities. She sits on the Operations Committee for the RNLI and is a patron for GAFIRS, an Independent Lifeboat station. Dee is also a patron for the charity Sail 4 Cancer and St Mary’s Junior Sailing Club. Dee is proud to be an ambassador for the charity Toe in the Water, where she is actively involved in racing with injured service personnel with the aim of re-inspiring, re-engaging and re-integration.
dee's timeline of major events
dee's records & feats
- Dee set a world record by becoming the first woman to complete a circumnavigation of the globe against the prevailing winds and currents in 2006.
- Dee competed in the 2008/9 Vendée Globe – a race around the world, non-stop and alone. She crossed the finish line in 6th place out of the 30 starters.
- Dee crossed the finish line of the Barcelona World Race in April 2011 and on completion of this race entered the record books once again as the only woman to have circumnavigated the globe, non-stop, three times.
- Dee joined Team SCA and set a new speed record for a female crew, circumnavigating Britain and Ireland in 2014 after they completed the race in 4 days 21 hours and 39 seconds, beating her previous record.
