Dee Caffari admits sailing round the world has its drawbacks but the lure of "glorious sunsets" and "endless horizons" mean she is just four months away from her next great voyage.

Dee, a graduate from Leeds Metropolitan University, is already the first woman in history to sail single-handedly, non-stop around the world the 'wrong way' – against the tide and currents.

But now she's back for more and in November will set sail from Les Sables d'Olonne, France, for the Vendee Globe race to navigate the world the right way round.

If she completes the arduous trek Dee will make history as the first woman to sail both ways round the globe.

She has undertaken a dramatic change in lifestyle and just eight years ago the former Leeds student was a secondary school PE teacher after graduating from Leeds Met.

However, given her father's passion for boats her destiny always lay on the water and Dee soon gave up her job and completed the relevant yachting qualifications.

Six months windsurfing in Barbados, where she qualified as a water sports instructor, had her hooked and she insists her gruelling adventures are worth every second.
Experience

"You can talk forever about the hard things," said Dee. "People say 'why do you do enjoy doing it' and that's because the good things far outweigh the bad things.Endless horizons and glorious scenes keep you going.

"It's not that I didn't enjoy the job teaching, it was just the right job too early.

"I then had an experience of sailing and I soon loved the whole watersports and everything and found it a good place to be.

"To be honest it all happened quite quickly and by no time in sailing I was already hooked on glorious sunsets and endless horizons."

Dee now lives on the south coast of England but part of her training for November's challenge is taking place back at Leeds Met University where she gained her teaching degree. The former student is now making huge waves sailing, but Dee has not forgotten her time at Leeds.

"I loved it and I remember clearly coming for the open day here," she said. "I just love how it is.

"It's a hive of activity and it's not really changed much – everyone here is enjoying themselves and there's a real vibe about the place.

"Everyone is enjoying their opportunity and I can look back at it now and say it was the best four years of my life.

"It's that text book 'Uni was great' line for me."

Dee returns regularly to Leeds Met for intensive training, but preparing for a round the world sailing expedition involves a lot more than physical exercise.

"It's unbelievable the extremes I have to go through," she explained.
"I am trying to feed myself for 100 days, November through to March.

"I also have to have dentists and doctor appointments so I can be confident I won't have any problems, and then there are the final checks of the boat."

However, Dee's next adventure should be 'plain sailing' compared to her ground-breaking 178-day around-the-world voyage against the tide in 2006.

Back then, Dee sailed 29,227 miles triumphing over lethal icebergs, mountainous waves and hurricane-force winds.

The elements were literally against her – she was forced to sail an extra 4,600 miles because the boat going backwards when she slept.

This year's expedition will take just over half that, around three months, but Dee has a new Aviva yacht to get to grips with and as part of the Vendee Globe will be sailing against significantly more experienced competitors.

There is also no bed on board – Dee's living quarters are located next to the navigation station in the main cockpit, a space of about two square metres.

And she is well aware that November's assault is still a mighty challenge.

"I suppose I've done the hardest part, but you want to go the other way round and there is more pressure on this time," she said.

"There is more competition and I am sailing with some real tough guys out there – I've got 18 months' experience compared to their 18 years.
"I've also got to get used to a new boat, which I need to learn, but I'm looking forward to it – and I just hope nature is on my side!.

"It will be a double first as I'll also be going the right way round now and last time I was going the wrong way – I remember looking over my shoulder at the other boats thinking 'it's easier that way'!

"Last time it was the quickest six months of my life, it felt like I'd read a book and someone's life story but it was mine.

"To be the first woman to sail around the world both ways will be amazing and it will take a bit of sinking in.

"There are very few 'firsts' left actually and to break another one would be cool."

Dee says the most treacherous area of the voyage is between Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope.

"The ultimate area of challenge is the Southern Ocean because it is so remote," she said. "I was on my own there in the stretch between Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope for 88 days last time, but this time it will be 36 so it's a big difference though it is very remote.

"The nearest rescue is two weeks away and in some parts the nearest land is 2,000 miles."

It may not be life threatening but the food isn't great either.
"It's pretty much just frozen dried food," she said. "It's a case of boil a kettle, pour it on and enjoy! Technology has made things a bit better, but the food just has a texture like baby food."

Horrible food, scant rescue cover and treacherous seas, all stumbling blocks for Dee as she embarks on her next great adventure. However, a naturally talkative and social person, it is clear what presents the toughest challenge of all.

"The hardest thing for me is the isolation, as I'm naturally an interactive person," she concedes. "You tend to really miss that as you go on along on your own, you really miss the interaction and communication and expressing yourself.

"When I get back I end up talking to everyone as I've had nobody to talk to! My boyfriend always laughs and says he needs to get some ear plugs. I talk at him for days, not to him!

"At least he's had experience of it now, and this will be shorter, so he should be okay!"

So, all being well, in eight month's time, Dee will set another record – being the first woman to sail both ways around the globe.

Time to wind down, not exactly.

"I tend to think a lot when I'm sailing as I'm out on my own and I'm sure I'll have a lot of time to think about the next great adventure," said Dee. "The guys are all in fear of what I'm going to be coming back with next!"