There’s nothing mixed about this duo

Young girls in the United Kingdom, and far beyond those shores, will bear witness as two of Britain’s most decorated female sailors will be teaming up for the 2022 UK Double Handed Offshore Season.

Racing a new Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300, the pair will be entered in seven offshore races throughout season culminating in the grueling 1,805nm Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race.

One of the sport’s most accomplished offshore sailors, Caffari boasts a remarkable career that includes six laps of the planet, three of them solo. A maiden solo circumnavigation against the winds and tides preceded the Vendee Globe and the double handed Barcelona World Race. As the only woman ever to have sailed non-stop around the planet three times, she twice completed the Volvo Ocean Race.

Joining Caffari is Double Olympic Gold medalist Robertson who got a taste of offshore sailing last year on the Sun Fast 3300 when she teamed with Volvo Ocean Race sailor Henry Bomby as the sport teased with the new Mixed Two Person Keelboat Offshore event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The pair were rivals throughout last season’s double handed series, the highlight for Robertson being a second place finish in the grueling Rolex Fastnet Race. It was a result that has fueled Robertson’s new found love of sailing offshore…:

“The double handed offshore scene has grown hugely here in the UK, and although it’s relatively new to me, the last two seasons have been great racing. I’m really looking forward to sailing with Dee for 2022, to be sailing with such an accomplished offshore athlete is very exciting.”

Caffari and Robertson have sailed against each other many times over the years, but have never even sailed on the same boat before, so with a full season of double handed racing on the cards, Caffari is excited to finally be teaming up with Robertson…:

“With our collective experience, we have a complimentary skill set so really hope to have an edge out on the water. I know, from competing against her last season, that Shirley knows how to sail a boat fast, so I’m delighted that we’ll be joining forces for the season ahead.”

Robertson produced a series of videos in 2021 to document her experience, and it is suspected that a similar plan will be forthcoming.