Interview with Dee Caffari

Dee Caffari MBE is the only woman to have sailed solo, non-stop, around the world in both directions and the first woman to sail non-stop around the world three times.

Dee’s sailing career has seen her rise through the ranks to become one of the most successful and recognised offshore sailors.

In this podcast along with her trusted Medical adviser Dr Spike Briggs (q.v.) we explore some of the challenges Dee  met on her round the world challenges and how Spike as a remote medical adviser supported her in those adventures. We explore the highs and lows , the successes and what she saw as failures and dealing with loneliness that can exist when on ones own in a remote location or in a remote location with many people around you but just yourself making those “lonely” decisions.

I hope you find the show interesting and you can find out more about Dee and her latest adventures where she aims to draw attention to the colossal environmental challenges that we are facing with plastic in the oceans and global warming.

For further information on Dee Caffari go to www.deecaffari.com

Dr Spike Briggs CEng FRCA is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia in the UK. He originally graduated with a degree in civil engineering, worked in the offshore industry for over ten years (including being at Piper Alpha in 1988), and then entered Medical School. He has sailed all his life, including a round the world yacht race in 1996. For the past twenty years, he has been involved in providing medical advice for many yacht races, including the Volvo Ocean Race and the America’s Cup. He is an adviser to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the UK, and is lead author of the latest edition of the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide. He has also written several other books on remote healthcare at sea and on land. He is a member of the Medical Commission for World Sailing, organising the medical aspects of international competitive sailing, including the Olympic Games. He is the owner and managing director of Medical Support Offshore Ltd, which provides support for super yachts, racing and leisure yachts, and commercial shipping worldwide.

As always “In healthy company” the areas we explore are there to give different perspectives and approaches on how an individual might deal with pressures and strive towards wellness. However I would urge anyone for whom the pressure is uncomfortable or unbearable to reach out to friends and professional advisers such as your General Practitioner or The Samaritans.

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