FORMER PE teacher Dee Caffari is the first woman in history to sail single-handed non-stop around the globe against prevailing winds and currents.

Born in Hertfordshire, she now lives in Southampton with her partner and coach Harry Spalding and is the epitome of an action women.

After five years of teaching Caffari spent six months windsurfing in Barbados before qualifying as a watersports instructor and gaining her sailing qualifications.

She went on to become a skipper and then a fleet manager with a yacht charter company, introducing her to the adrenaline-fuelled world of big boat racing.

In 2004/5 Caffari was selected as the only female skipper to compete in the Global Round the World Race.

She became part of the largest Southern Ocean rescue of all time when one of her crew had to be airlifted from the boat. But she still managed to sail into sixth place and earned a spot on the podium.

It was during this adventurous voyage that Caffari decided she could take on this treacherous route alone, vowing to become the first solo female to circumnavigate the globe, non-stop - the wrong way.

In November 2005 she embarked on the perilous voyage, sailing back into Southampton on May 21 2006.

Not content with that, the yachtswoman now competes in adventure racing - a gruelling form of racing that combines two or more disciplines.

Last Caffari led an all female team in a demanding adventure race combining cross-country trekking, running, cycling and kayaking over 6,500km of Tasmanian terrain.

Name: Dee Caffari Occupation: Record breaking yachtswoman Date of Birth: January 23, 1973 Local Link: Lives in Southampton