Dee Caffari nominated for ISAF Rolex World Sailor Awards

The nominees for the coveted ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards were announced yesterday and Dee Caffari MBE joins just three other contenders in the female category. The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) receives nominations from across the globe for sailors representing all aspects of the sport and take into account achievements between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011.

Caffari is proud to join fellow British sailors, Ben Ainslie and Alexandra Rickham, in the nomination line up and it is her thirst for adventure and capacity to rise to successive challenges that have seen her achieve numerous record breaking successes.

In 2011 Caffari earned herself yet another place in the record books when she completed the Barcelona World Race. Sailing the double-handed non-stop around the world race aboard the IMOCA60 GAES Centros Auditivos, Dee and her co-skipper finished in sixth place after 102 days at sea. This achievement makes Caffari the first woman to sail non-stop around the world three times.

On hearing news of her nomination, Caffari said:

“It is an honour to receive this recognition from your peers in the sport and I am delighted to be associated with such an impressive line-up of sailors. I have worked incredibly hard over the last six years and although I am pleased with what I have achieved so far, I am always looking ahead to the next challenge. It is fantastic for offshore sailing to be recognised alongside other disciplines within the sport.”

Caffari’s first circumnavigation was completed in 2005 after she skippered a team in the Global Challenge yacht race, a ten month stop-over race with an amateur crew sailed against the prevailing winds and currents. Just four months after completing this race she set off again aboard the 72ft monohull Aviva, sailing the same route but this time on her own and without stopping. She returned 178 days later after a gruelling journey of extreme highs and lows, earning herself an MBE and a place in the record books as the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world west-about.

Caffari’s next challenge was the 2008-9 Vendée Globe, this time sailing solo non-stop east-about on the IMOCA60 Aviva. Caffari finished an impressive sixth out of 30 competitors and became the first woman to sail solo in both directions non-stop around the world.

In 2011 she completed the hat-trick and also found time to finish second aboard the MOD70 Race for Water in the Rolex Fastnet Race, skipper Artemis Ocean Racing in the Round the Island Race, compete at Phuket Race Week and continue her work as an ambassador for the tri-service charity initiative Toe in the Water.

Caffari’s next goal is to compete in the Vendée Globe 2012 with the intention of securing a podium position and the search for a new title sponsor to support her on going sailing campaign continues.

To read more about Dee and her achievements go to www.sailing.org/worldsailor/2011/dee-caffari.php