Sailing Around the World with Dee Caffari

In 2006 you set a world record for becoming the first woman to complete a circumnavigation of the globe against prevailing winds and currents. Could you tell us a little bit more about this? What inspired you to undertake this?

The year before the Aviva Challenge, I was on the Global Challenge race which involved leading amateur sailors around the world westward, against the prevailing winds and currents. The race comprised 12 identical boats and I was the only female skipper. During the race, I had a conversation with Sir Chay Byth, the first man to sail solo, non-stop, around the world against the winds and currents. He suggested I follow in his footsteps and repeat his epic voyage. The opportunity to achieve a world first was a huge lure for me as only men had completed this challenge. So, three months after finishing the Global Challenge and having never sailed solo before, I set off on what was originally termed ‘the impossible voyage’.

Another one of your incredibly impressive endeavours was in 2008/9 when you competed in the Vendée Globe - a race around the world, non-stop and alone. This sounds like such a tough physical and mental challenge - how do you prepare physically and mentally for something like this?

I had a strict physical training programme that included weights and cardio in the gym and sail training. I also worked with a sports psychologist who helped shift my mindset to focus on performance and how to get the best out of myself. I learnt to prioritize and focus on things I can control because worrying about something that’s beyond my reach is wasted energy.  I am very goal driven so being proactive to meet those goals is important, as is enjoying the sense of achievement when you are successful.  I adopted positive language, so rather than saying what I didn't want to happen, I articulated only what I didwant to achieve. It's easy to slip into a negative language mode, but much more effective to keep yourself focused on positive outcomes.

It’s got to be quite scary at time being alone in the middle of the ocean. How do you cope with/overcome fear on your adventures?

There have been a fair few tin hat moments on my voyages for sure. Fear is intrinsically linked to adrenalin release and having adrenalin in your system makes you ready to act. This is important as often action is exactly what is required when sailing in a challenging situation. Feelings of fear can have its uses provided it does not overwhelm or paralyse you. Good preparation and having a clear plan is important when you know you are heading into a potentially dangerous situation. If you know you have done everything you can to stay safe, you have to let go of the fear and trust in yourself and your instincts.

You made history once again in 2011 as the only woman to have circumnavigated the globe, non-stop, three times. What an incredible achievement! What sort of obstacles did you face along the way?

The Barcelona Round the World Race was different because I was sailing double-handed with my co-skipper – Spanish sailor Anna Corbella. It is a very different dynamic onboard because you have to work as a team and tactical decisions become joint ones that are discussed and decided on together. Working in shifts does allow for longer periods of rest than you would have when sailing solo. The challenges are that you are confined to a very small space for a long period of time under stressful conditions. Having a good working relationship and being able to communicate is essential.