Product Description

In 2006, Dee Caffari became the first woman to sail solo round the world against the prevailing winds and currents. Her story is an adventure in the true sense of the word. It is about physical hardship in terrible conditions, overcoming solitude, sleep deprivation, the worry of crucial equipment failing, 34 days of gales, 12 metre waves, cyclones and a lightning strike. It is also about a woman who stepped outside her safe zone, gave up a good job and financial security, all because she wanted to sail. She dared to dream, and her courage resulted in a place in the history books alongside a handful of men. More people have walked on the moon than have successfully completed a westabout circumnavigation, and in this inspirational book Dee shares the story of her journey from beginner to record breaker. 'I feel I have been preparing for this my whole life. This is my dream. To be the first woman to sail the globe single-handed, westabout. It's twice as long and twice as hard. We can do more than we think we can. We just have to dare to dream.' Dee Caffari 'Dee has inspired the imagination of a worldwide audience. She has joined only four men who have achieved this feat. Other women may follow, but she will always remain the first.' Sir Chay Blyth

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #94827 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Review
'This is another inspiring account of what can be achieved with grit and determination...it brings home again the bravery and resourcefulness of those who set sail to battle alone against the world's oceans.' Yachting Monthly (October 2007) 'Dee is a former PE teacher and only took up sailing 7 years ago. In that time she's packed in an amazing amount, and the book tell hers incredible history, including a race against time in the Southern Ocean to save a critically ill crewmember. The book is a brilliant read.' Yachting World (September 2007) 'Caffari's achievements--More people have walked on the moon than successfully completed a westabout circumnavigation--certainly deserve to be told.' The Bookseller (May 2007) 'It's a book best read by dreamers, because doers may be infected and inspired' Sailing Today (December 2007) 'This is an incredibly moving and inspirational book ... you can't fail to be in awe of Dee when you read this book, in the words of Dee, "We just have to dare to dream."' Boat Mart (March 2008)

Practical Boat Owner, January 2008
The indomitable Dee Caffari bares her soul (and a few embarrassing childhood photos as well) in a moving account of how she became the most famous lady of the water since Ellen MacArthur. Against the Flow pits nice and normal Dee against the worst the ocean can throw at a person, making it a cracking read for non-sailors and sailors alike.

Boat Mart, March 1, 2008
This is an incredibly moving and inspirational book ... you can't fail to be in awe of Dee when you read this book. In the words of Dee, "We just have to dare to dream." If only there were more of us like her, I've no doubt this book will inspire more people to follow their dreams too.

Customer Reviews

Amazing round the world journey and its background
I bought this book because I had enjoyed other sailing books such as that written by Derek Lundy (Godforsaken Sea) and Rob Mundle (Fatal Storm). Dee's book certainly lived up to my expectations of what a sailing book should be about. Not only that but it is more than an account of her, nevertheless amazing, trip westwards around the world against the prevailing winds. But she also explained about her motivations in life and how she became involved in sailing initially. This is interesting, as it is always helpful to a reader to have an idea of what a person's motivation for doing things is; the book has more meaning as a result.

Regarding the journey itself, I think she covers it in the right amount of detail and focuses on the difficulties of the Southern Ocean. For a reader this is probably the most interesting part of the difficult journey, due to the multiple constant threats she and the yacht faced. I see that Dee is to be a contestant in the 2008 Vendee round the world solo race and I'll certainly be watching her progress right from the start in November.

Some diagrams explaining some of the nautical manoeuvres would be welcomed but other than that this book is difficult to criticise in any real way

Moving account by a truly courageous sailor
Refreshingly honest, beautifully written and put together, and altogether superior to most of the autobiographical work I have seen. It was moving, inspiring and entertaining in equal measure. It really brought back vividly the days of logging on anxiously to the website to see how Dee was doing. Unreservedly recommended.

Inspiration in waves!
Dee Caffari is somehow a remarkable 'ordinary' human being who has the ability and determination to achieve the extraordinary. If you want to inspire and change someone's life buy this book for them for Christmas and let them enter the New Year feeling positive and upbeat. Whatever you do don't give them your copy!

Highs and lows appear in plenty, as do challenges and insights on how to turn things around to succeed. Even if your experience afloat extends to a pedalo - this is a great read and great inspiration about ambition, determination, achievement and teamwork.