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One of the world's most capable sailors: Lisa Blair
Shelley Wright • March 6, 2021
The Most Capable Sailors: Lisa Blair
A couple of years ago I wrote in a SisterShip
blog that Lisa Blair was one of our favourite sailors, adding, “Lisa beats life into submission with her enthusiasm and dedication”. I’m pleased to say, two years later, nothing has changed on either score!
Lisa spoke to the 2017 Gathering attendees via Satellite phone – broadcast via microphone to the room. There was barely a dry eye as she chatted cheerily from those remote and frigid water to us in balmy Port Stephens.
I first met Lisa at the inaugural Women Who Sail Australia Gathering on the Bay (GOTB) at Port Stephens in 2016.
Lisa amazed us with her plans to sail solo around Antarctica the following year, the audience enthralled by her enthusiasm and energy.
By the time the 2017 GOTB rolled around Lisa was deep in the Southern Ocean and most of us were glued to our computer screens awaiting daily updates on her progress.
Lisa spoke to the 2017 Gathering attendees via Satellite phone – broadcast via microphone to the room. There was barely a dry eye as she chatted cheerily from those remote and frigid water to us in balmy Port Stephens.
Two days later we awoke to a phone call relaying the devastating news of her dismasting.
Those who know Lisa were not at all surprised that she managed to jury rig Climate Action Now
and get herself and her boat safely to Cape Town, South Africa, for repairs before completing her solo record-breaking circumnavigation.
The enormity of what Lisa experienced and accomplished during this time was evident when she showed us her video footage once back home.
To many of us, Lisa’s dismasting and consequent handling of that situation cemented her reputation as one of the most capable sailors on the globe.
All the more remarkable considering she is from a non-sailing background, grew up inland, and was once turned down for a deckhand position on a charter yacht in the Whitsundays!
Safely back in Australia, Lisa’s feet barely touched the dock before she embarked on an east coast speaking tour, prepared an all-women team to compete aboard Climate Change Now
in the 2017 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race, skippered the all-women team aboard Dove-Defi des filles
in the exhausting six-day PONANT Groupama yacht race in New Caledonia, and set off on another record-breaking solo circumnavigation – this time nonstop around Australia.
In between all this, Lisa somehow found the time to write about her Southern Ocean experiences in her debut book ‘Facing Fear’.
Having heard Lisa speak on numerous occasions I knew Lisa’s story well. I pre-ordered a copy of her book not so much for the story but as a passionate collector of nautical books by women, and of course to support this remarkable woman.
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However, as soon as I opened the cover, I was again drawn into Lisa’s adventure, and, once again, awed by the achievements and determination of this inspirational woman.
I caught up with Lisa recently to chat about her upcoming adventures – aiming to establish not one, but two, new world records!
Stay tuned to Lisa’s webpage for more but I can tell you she will be attempting a new speed record for the fastest monohulled yacht to sail Sydney to Auckland, and the first woman to do so.
Lisa will then tackle a second circumnavigation of Antarctica, determined this time to complete the journey non-stop and to break the speed record (which she was ahead of at the time of her dismasting in 2017) set in 2008 by Russian Fedor Konyukhov.
And beyond that? The word ‘Arctic’ has been mentioned!
In the meantime, be sure to snaffle a copy of her new book ‘Facing Fear’, available at good bookstores or from www.lisablairsailstheworld.com
PHOTOS: Banner: Lisa at the helm of Climate Action Now.
Top: Lisa Blair and WWSA member Meg Wright at the 2018 WWSA Gathering on the Bay, Port Stephens.
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