Dee Caffari
Dee Caffari has sailed around the world six times. She is the first woman to have sailed single-handed and non-stop around the world in both directions and the only woman to have sailed non-stop around the world a total of three times.
In 2006 Dee became the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, around the world against the prevailing winds and currents and was awarded an MBE in recognition of her achievement.
Dee recently led ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic’ — the first mixed gender youth team to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/18; with a strong sustainability message. Off the water, the issue of single use plastic in our oceans gained huge momentum and has inspired many people to take action in their day to day lives. Dee will continue to highlight the vital importance of reducing our dependence on plastics.
Outside of sailing, Dee continues to showcase her talents as a presenter and on the motivational speaker circuit. Dee also spends time supporting her chosen charities and is Chair of the World Sailing Trust, a new global charity that will promote the health of oceans and grow participation of the sport to protect its future.
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 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.
In 2017/18, Dee skippered the first mixed gender youth team to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race. Racing under the United Nations Environment initiative Clean Seas Turn the Tide on Plastic.
158: Dee Caffari, part 1: Turning the Tide on Plastic
For context for today’s guest, those who know I’m avoiding flying might also know I’m learning to sail to explore off North America. When considering acting on their values, most people focus on the part they like of what they’re stopping. They don’t seem to have trouble ignoring undesired side-effects, like the pollution flying causes.
Sailing and the other things I’ve replaced flying with have given far more than I could have predicted at a fraction what I used to spend on flying. Among its many benefits is the sailing community.
In that community, today’s guest, Dee Caffari, is off the charts. Once a school teacher, she started sailing to world-athlete levels. Now the international sailing community calls her a legend. Watch her videos. They look like they’re from movies but they’re her life, which she describes in our conversation.
She’s gone around the world in both directions, won races, led teams, been named an MBE. She shares her experiences, since sailing spans calm sunsets to life-and-death struggles with forces that can level cities. Her global vision has also revealed to her the growth in plastic, global warming effects, and other environmental problems. She works actively to reduce her personal impact and others’.
With the level of change in everyone’s lives to reverse the effects we’ve had on the earth, I find the magnitude of her change and how much she loves it refreshing. Most people act like the smallest change is too much. They want to learn how to keep doing what they’re doing and still feel like they’re changing.
Read the transcript.