Clare Francis

Clare Mary Francis MBE is a British author, former sailor, and advocate for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Sailing and early years
Clare Francis was often ill as a child, and took up ballet to gain strength. She won a place at the prestigious Royal Ballet School at age twelve, which she attended until she was 17.

Ms Francis became famous as a yatchswoman after a solo, unsponsored voyage across the Atlantic, and competing in a number of races. She set a new women's record in the Observer Single-Handed Transatlantic Race in 1976, and in 1977/78 she was the first woman to skipper a yacht in the Whitbread Round the World Race, finishing in fifth place. She then began for career as a writer.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Clare Francis became ill with myalgic encephalomyelitis in the 1986, describing it as a "living death".

When she began speaking publicly about having ME, the disease was commonly referred to using the derogatory term "yuppie flu". She has suffered from ME for many years.

Writing
Ms Francis published three non-fiction books about sailing, then moved into writing fiction. While suffering from her worst period of ME, Ms Francis struggled even to speak, she spent four years with symptoms severe enough to interfere with both writing and raising her son.

Francis went on to write both non-fiction and fiction books. The thriller Night Sky, which she had published in 1983, became an international bestseller. Ms Francis' myriad achievements have earned her an MBE.

Charity work
Clare Francis is president of British charity Action for ME, which she helped found.

Talks and interviews

 * 1988, 'My battle against the living death' | Bizarre disease gives fearless sailor her greatest challenge, Weekly World News
 * 2004, Don't mention the Sailing

Online presence

 * Twitter
 * Facebook
 * Instagram
 * LinkedIn
 * Website
 * YouTube

Learn more

 * Website