Pamela Lee: Irish Offshore Sailor, World Record Holder, Empowering Women Through Sailing, Training for Route du Rhum 2026.
- xtinecruzat
- May 29
- 4 min read
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Pamela Lee, a professional offshore sailor from Ireland who’s breaking records and barriers in one of the most extreme, male-dominated sports on the planet. Now based in Brittany, France—the heart of short-handed offshore racing—Pamela has carved out her path with grit, determination, and a clear vision for empowering women through sailing.
Pam shares her journey from growing up beside the sea in Ireland to becoming the first Irish woman to skipper the Transat Jacques Vabre Race, setting three world records sailing around Ireland, and now training for the 2026 Route du Rhum, one of the toughest solo ocean races in the world.
We dive deep into her early influences, the realities of offshore racing, learning French to break into the French sailing scene, and the financial, emotional, and physical challenges of pursuing elite-level sailing. From boat borrowing to breaking glass ceilings, Pamela opens up about the power of visibility, representation, and believing in your own potential—no matter how big the dream.
Whether you're interested in sailing, women in sport, or chasing bold goals, this is an empowering and eye-opening conversation not to miss.
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Show notes
Who is Pamela
Living and working in Brittany, France
Professional Off-shore Sailor
Living in the mecca of off-shore sailing
What short-handed sailing is
Speaking French and sailing in French
Studying French at school and doing a French exchange
The challenge of learning French
The power of emersion when learning a language
Growing up in Ireland (south of Dublin, on the South East Coast) beside the sea
Having a dad who is a sailing fanatic
Family holidays camping and sailing
Opportunities to become a professional sailor?
Adapting her mentality on how she wanted to live her life
Knowing that a 9-5 job was not for her
Living in Sydney, Australia and wanting to sail
Sydney Hobart offshore sailing race
Finding a boat to sail on
Wanting to travel and to sail more
Wanting to make a change
Considering the possibility of becoming a professional sailor
Getting her Yacht Master Qualification
Getting the opportunity to move to France
Wanting to learn more skills and not getting to do those positions
Reaching a glass ceiling and not seeing how to get to the next level
Looking for the next opportunity and heading back to Ireland to figure it out
Discussion around the Olympics and sailing (double handed offshore racing)
Being part of a mixed sex duo
Being invited to train for the Irish team for this potential event
Heading to France to trail for this type of racing
Being exposed to the French offshore racing world
Deciding to stay in France 2019 - 2020
Setting 3 world records by sailing around Ireland and how the goal came about
Fastest sailing around Ireland in a boat of 40ft or under
Setting the record for double handed and the women’s record for racing around Ireland
The covid years and going back and forth between France and Ireland
Personal inner ambition and wanting to know what she could do
Needing to get a boat
Borrowing a boat and starting to train with it for racing around Ireland
Spending several days at seas and racing 700 nautical miles in approx 3-4 days
Funding for sailing
Making a big media splash and getting your name out there with the record
Getting women’s stories in main stream press
Women’s voices and the progress being made in women’s sports and how they are represented
The push towards progress
The Route du Rhum a transatlantic single-handed yacht race, which takes place every four years in November.
Racing from France to the Caribbean solo - the longest and toughest trans-atlantic race
Being the first Irish female to do the race
Needing to qualify for the race (based on miles raced)
Needed to race and train before
Starting the project and finding their founding sponsor - DFDS
Funding costs via sponsorship
The dream budget and costs involved
The stress of getting sponsorship and maintaining the relationship
Filming a documentary with Musto (Sailing clothing brand)
The importance of visibility and representation
Being inspired by the sporting women in the Olympics
The importance of PERSONAL challenges
How to connect with Pam
Words of advice for other women who want to go after their own goals
Encouraging women to go after big goals and building a step by step progression plan
Building your confidence along the way
Giving yourself credit and the belief to tackle big things
Social Media
Website www.pamelaleesailing.com
Instagram @pamybefree
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