Quick Reference

Biography

Dee Caffari is one of the most decorated ocean sailors in the world - and one of the most compelling people to have ever stood on a stage and told a story about it.

A former secondary school PE teacher from Hertfordshire, Dee did not begin her sailing career until the age of 27. Within a decade she had rewritten the record books. In 2006 she became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe solo and non-stop against the prevailing winds and currents - sailing westward, the wrong way round, through the Southern Ocean, around Cape Horn and across the Atlantic. Only four men had ever completed that route before her. More people have walked on the moon.

Two years later she entered the Vendée Globe, widely regarded as the Everest of offshore sailing, crossing the finish line in sixth place and becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world in both directions. In 2011, completing the Barcelona World Race made her the only woman on earth to have sailed non-stop around the globe three times.

Dee has also competed in the Volvo Ocean Race, won the Round Britain and Ireland speed record for an all-female crew and, most recently, co-skippered The Famous Project's all-female crew to a non-stop circumnavigation record aboard the maxi trimaran IDEC Sport, completing the voyage in January 2026.

Awarded an MBE in 2007, Dee is also one of Britain's most sought-after motivational speakers. Her talks draw on leadership under pressure, resilience, goal-setting and the psychology of performing alone in the most hostile environments on earth and they work just as well for audiences with no sailing background whatsoever.

She has written one book: Against the Flow (2007, updated 2009).

Images

Speaking

Dee tailors every talk to her audience. Her stories come from the ocean, but the themes are universal. Past clients include Barclays, Sky, London Business School and Ocean Summit.

• Leadership under pressure - what solo sailing teaches about decision-making
• Resilience and mental toughness - surviving the Southern Ocean, alone
• Goal-setting and the long game - from teacher to world record holder
• Team performance - leading crews through gruelling multi-month races
• Risk assessment and staying calm when everything goes wrong
• Gender, ambition and pioneering - being first in a man's world
• Sustainability and ocean health - Clean Seas, World Sailing Trust

Dee illustrates her talks with stunning film footage and photography from her voyages. She is equally at home as an after-dinner speaker, keynote, panellist or facilitator.

Achievements

Honours

MBE (2007). Honorary Commander RNR, Royal Navy. Yachtsman of the Year 2006.

What people say

"Engaging, thought-provoking and humble. Her story resonated so strongly that we are already being asked to bring her back."

Audience member

Online

Website: deecaffari.co.uk 
Instagram: @deecaffari
LinkedIn: Dee Caffari MBE
Facebook: Dee Caffari

All images must be credited as supplied.
Standard credit line: Photo credit: [photographer name] / deecaffari.co.uk