Pamela Lee: Irish Offshore Sailor, World Record Holder, Empowering Women Through Sailing, Training for Route du Rhum 2026.

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
• Consider