Dee Caffari MBE

Yachtswoman Dee Caffari has made history three times. In May 2006, Dee became the first woman to sail solo around the world 'the wrong way' (against the prevailing winds and currents). This is an extraordinary feat. Only four men have ever completed this challenging route before, and more people have walked on the moon. In recognition of this, Dee was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

Never one to remain in her comfort zone, Dee announced her goal to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world in both directions. She entered the highly competitive Open 60 racing world and faced a formidable task, competing against the best international sailors in a race held every four years 'the right way' around the globe. After one of the most dramatic Vendée Globes ever known (2008/09) – aptly called ‘The Everest of the Seas’ – Dee crossed the finish line in February 2009 to international acclaim, achieving a double world-first.

On completing the Barcelona World Race in April 2011 with her co-skipper Anna Corbella, Dee became the only woman on earth to have sailed non-stop around the world three times. Dee Caffari MBE has proven herself to be a yachtswoman of the highest caliber, especially since she began her sailing career only in 2000.

In early 2013, Dee Caffari MBE led the only all-female crew in Sailing Arabia – The Tour (SATT). Established by Oman Sail, SATT is the first international sailing regatta to unite the Gulf nations in competitive racing. For the 2013 Fastnet race, Dee joined an international crew on Oman Sail’s flagship ‘Oman Air Musandam’ and won the multihull class. Sailing with her was Raya Al Habsi, one of the original members of the Oman Sail Women’s program, whom Dee has been coaching. Raya has been sailing for just three years.

In recognition of her contributions to the sea, Britain's maritime heritage, and the charity ‘Toe in the Water’ which supports injured service men and women, Dee Caffari MBE was appointed by the Royal Navy as an Honorary Commander in 2011.

With a passion for sport and exercise, Dee’s strong interest in health and high performance stems from her background as a teacher. Her desire to face and overcome challenges has led Dee to adventures outside of sailing as well. One major challenge was leading a female team over 6500km of rugged terrain in the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge, aiming to raise money for cancer charities. Dee has since become the Patron for the charity Sail4Cancer. Her love for the ocean and the British coastline has made Dee an Ambassador for the RYA Green Blue Campaign to promote reducing, reusing, and recycling.

One of Britain’s most inspirational women, Dee Caffari MBE is now an acclaimed international speaker. She shares her highly motivational story with humour and insight. Her autobiography ‘Against the Flow’ is available in French, Italian, and German. Dee offers a unique perspective by drawing on her world records in offshore sailing and the many challenges she has faced to achieve high performance in competitive, risky, and tough environments. She shares her experiences, insights, and personal lessons in an authentic, memorable, and entertaining way.

Speaker Topics:

• Resilience and courage in tough times
• Passion and self-belief to succeed
• Good communication and teamwork
• Embracing change and challenge
• High Performance: Insights into achieving three world-firsts
• Leadership

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