LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- British solo round-the-world sailor Dee Caffari happily admits that you need to be a little bit 'mad ' to take on long-distance sailing . Dee Caffari celebrates completing the solo Vendee Globe race earlier this year . And she should know : Caffari became the first woman to sail single-handedly around the world in both directions after completing the solo round-the-world race , Vendee Globe , earlier this year . `` People say you must be mad -- and there probably is an element of truth in that , '' the 36 year-old told CNN . Growing up on the south coast of England , Caffari was bitten by the sailing bug early and her passion for the sport led her to enter the Vendee Globe , considered by some to be the most punishing sporting event on the planet . Caffari spent 99 days at sea completely alone and says preparation is the key to success in long-distance voyages at sea . That , and the desire and self-belief to make it to the finish . `` You have to have this desire to see how far you can push yourself . It 's having the willingness to put yourself in that uncomfortable position -- and belief that you have the strength to get through it . `` It 's a perceived risk and you go out there knowing that you have done all you can to deal with all scenarios . You do n't just go out there on a whim -- we are well trained , '' she said . Coping day-to-day during the journey is a whole new challenge : solo sailors must battle perilous conditions , changes to sleep patterns and , inevitably , loneliness . Would you survive a round the world voyage ? Take our personality test and find out ! Caffari says she found being separated from family and friends was the hardest aspect of sailing round-the-world the first time . `` The toughest thing about my first journey was not seeing people for six months . You can communicate very well now , perhaps too well , but it still does n't allow you to have face-to-face contact with people . '' Modern-day communications allow sailors to keep in touch via satellite phones and also keep in Internet contact . Sailors are tracked by global positioning systems ( GPS ) and also receive regular weather information . `` Transition '' periods at the start or just after the end of voyages -- when sailors are adjusting to boat routines or getting reacquainting with daily life -- are also very challenging . Exhaustion while getting used to different sleep patterns was particularly difficult : On board , Caffari would generally sleep in short bursts of two or three hours depending on conditions . The amount of sleep could vary greatly from day-to-day . `` The transitions are difficult . Life on board is very disciplined . Your adjustment with new sleeping patterns takes about two to three weeks . If it 's changeable weather when you 're out there , you do n't stand a hope of getting sleep . `` It 's a major shock to the body when you get back too . Suddenly you are supposed to get all your sleep at once -- and you actually have a night and a day , '' she said . Food is also an issue for sailors spending a long time at sea . It needs to keep for a long time and take up minimal space , which means meals can be monotonous -- freeze-dried pasta or rice-based dishes made by adding hot water . Cravings are not unusual , according to Caffari . `` Thankfully the product has improved . I just get bored of eating the same type of food . You are aware you have n't had fresh produce in a long time and you start to crave it . '' Despite the hardships , Caffari says there are numerous benefits . `` It 's an amazing environment . Every time you go out you are going to see something different -- but you ca n't always prepare for how hostile the environment may be . `` I 'm not a gadget person , so I quite enjoy the basics of life . I really value my time now . And in a team scenario it can be particularly rewarding , as the ability to not only push one 's own limits but also to push other people 's limits is important , '' she said . The intrepid Caffari is ready to push her limits once again -- this time sailing around Britain and Ireland . To find out more about Dee Caffari 's voyage around Britain and Ireland go to her Web site : www.deecaffari.co.uk .
CNN 's MainSail speaks with British round-the-world sailor Dee Caffari . Caffari is the only woman to have sailed around the globe in both directions . Lack of sleep and loneliness are the main challenges , according to Caffari . TL;DR The world's first all-female sailing team has set sail from England for a solo circumnavigation.