TEN years ago, Dee Caffari was happily teaching PE to secondary schoolchildren.

But in 2000, after five years in education, she made a career change that would affect her life forever.

After watching the start of that year’s Vendée Globe race Caffari set her heart on becoming an ocean sailor – and six years later, on May 21, 2006, she sailed back into Southampton as the first woman ever to sail non-stop round the world “the wrong way” against the winds and tides.

Caffari now faces her biggest challenge yet – taking on 29 of the world’s best solo sailors in the race that first inspired her to take up the sport – the Vendée Globe.

If she completes the race, she will secure her place in history as the first woman ever to sail single-handed, non-stop round the world in both directions – but she has no delusions about the challenge facing her.

“This time is going to be so different,” the 35-year-old said.

“To go against the winds and currents was something I had to achieve on my own and it was just a case of finishing it.

“Now I’m going against the world’s best sailors in a full-on race, 24/7 for three months of hard-core sailing.

“It’s going to be a very different environment to live in.

“But mentally I feel a lot more emotionally stable – I’m more comfortable now with what’s ahead of me.

“I’m in a good place at the moment.”

Caffari, who lives in Titchfield with her partner and campaign manager Harry Spedding, is one of the least experienced single-handed sailors in the fleet and, along with fellow Hampshire sailor Sam Davies, is one of only two women competing.

But she says she is now ready to put her all into the race, which starts on November 9.

“Ten years ago I was happily teaching in the classroom and I didn’t have a clue what the Vendée Globe was let alone who Mike Golding was,” she explained.

“I changed careers and saw Mike off for the start of the 2000 edition and I was like ‘wow, this is amazing’ but I never thought eight years later I would be competing too.

“When you see the clock ticking down it’s enough to almost put you off but it’s what we have been working towards and eventually it has to arrive.

“The guys have done a fantastic job on the boat and everything is coming together at the right time.

“I’m keen for the start day to come.”

She will have to take on the mighty Southern Ocean in her brand new boat – but she has the added advantage of having successfully navigated it three years ago.

For Caffari, the race is as much about survival as it is about winning.

“It’s crazy in the Southern Ocean but the boats are designed to do it,” she said.

“I know it can be horrible down there but it doesn’t last forever.

“Last time I was down there for 88 days – this time it will be just 40 so all I have to do keep in the back of my mind that it won’t last forever.

“It’s full on but it’s what I’ve stepped up to do.

“Forty per cent of the people who start won’t finish this race, and I want to make sure I’m in the 60 per cent who do.

“The Vendée Globe is the Everest of sailing, it is what every solo sailor dreams of doing and I have been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to get me here.

“It’s a massive opportunity and I have to grasp it with both hands.”