Dee Caffari MBE

Dee first captured global attention in 2006 when she became the first woman to circumnavigate the world solo, non-stop against the prevailing winds and currents – a route often described as sailing “the wrong way” around the planet. The remarkable voyage required immense determination, technical skill and mental strength, establishing Dee as one of the world’s leading ocean sailors.

Her achievements did not stop there. In 2008/09 she completed the Vendée Globe, widely known as “The Everest of the Seas”, one of the toughest solo sporting challenges on Earth. She later competed in the Barcelona World Race, becoming the only woman to have sailed non-stop around the world three times at that stage in her career.

Over the years Dee has continued to push the boundaries of offshore sailing, ultimately completing six circumnavigations of the globe and setting multiple world-firsts and speed records along the way. Her current challenge sees her co-skippering The Famous Project, an all-woman team aiming to win the Jules Verne Trophy, awarded for the fastest circumnavigation of the world. No all-female crew has yet achieved this feat.

As a skipper and leader, Dee has successfully led diverse international teams in some of the most demanding ocean races in the world, including the Volvo Ocean Race 2017–18. During this race she also led the Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign, supporting the United Nations Environment Clean Seas initiative to raise awareness of ocean plastic pollution while promoting sustainability and gender equality.

Away from competitive sailing, Dee plays an influential role within the sport and the wider maritime community. She serves as Chair of the World Sailing Trust, helping drive initiatives around sustainability, diversity and inclusion in sailing. Her achievements have been widely recognised, including being awarded an MBE for services to sailing and being appointed an Honorary Commander in the Royal Navy.

As a keynote speaker, Dee Caffari brings the lessons of extreme ocean racing to audiences across the world. Drawing on her experiences navigating some of the harshest environments on the planet, she shares powerful insights into leadership, communication, resilience, risk management and teamwork. Her authentic storytelling, energy and humour ensure her talks resonate with audiences across industries, leaving them inspired to tackle challenges with confidence and determination.

To book Motivational Speaker Dee Caffari MBE, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com