Dee Caffari has been named on Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours list and will be awarded an MBE for her solo round the world record achievement later this year.

Fresh from completing her first major Open 60 regatta – the Calais Round Britian and Ireland Race – Caffari is now in sailing the Mini Fastnet – a double-handed Open 6,50 with British sailor Ollie Bond. Even before the sprint round Britain Caffari has been training hard with Bond on the Mini Transat 6,50 in order to gain as much racing experience as possible – particularly downwind tactics – before next year’s Vendee Globe.

Commenting from Douarnenez, France just before she set off for the Mini Fastnet Prologue, Caffari said: “I am delighted and stunned to have been granted this honour and am greatly looking forward to visiting the Palace later this year to collect my award from Her Majesty The Queen.

“We have a great sailing heritage here in the UK and I am very proud to have been able to play my part in carrying this forward by setting the record as the first woman to sail solo non-stop around the world against the prevailing winds and currents.

“I hope I have inspired others to seize every opportunity and achieve their personal goals. I could not have achieved my goal without my fantastic support team and sponsor and am grateful for their continued commitment as I step up to the next level of sailing when I compete in the Vendee Globe next year.”