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With a passion for adventure and a willingness to break barriers, Lisa Blair has set her sights on breaking a multitude of records. From her solo circumnavigation of Antarctica to her commitment to preserving the oceans, her journey has been marked by unwavering determination and daring sailing aboard her Class 40 Climate Action Now. Let's see in this first part how this sailor, who seems to defy her own fears, is inspiring a new generation of sailors to pursue their dreams.
A record-breaking quest around Antarctica
In January 2017, Lisa Blair left Albany, Western Australia, with the ambition of sailing around Antarctica non-stop and unassisted, while beating the 102-day record set by Russian Fedor Konyukhov. During her navigation, she faces extreme conditions with colossal waves that test her determination, an experience during which " every day was a battle, but also a celebration of resilience", she recalls.
After 72 days at sea, her mast broke in a storm. Faced with this critical situation, Lisa manages to save her boat, Climate Action Now and reached Cape Town, where she undertook 2 months of repairs. An episode that illustrates not only her ability to overcome the unexpected, but also the determination required of any sailor to succeed in such harsh environments. When she finally set sail again, she made her dream come true, becoming the first female solo sailor to circumnavigate Antarctica, albeit with a stopover. The total elapsed time for her voyage was 183 days, 7 hours and 21 minutes, including 103 days in navigable reference time.
In 2022, driven by a new ambition, Lisa embarked on a second attempt, setting a record for circumnavigation of Antarctica in 92 days, 18 hours and 21 minutes. Declaring that " limits are only challenges" it reminds us all that difficulties can open the door to unsuspected horizons.
The Class 40, a strategic choice
The choice of boat is a fundamental step in the preparation of any sailing expedition. For this purpose, Lisa selected a Class 40 built by Robert Hick, made of fiberglass and balsa wire: a model renowned for its speed and maneuverability. " The design of my boat allows me to sail efficiently, even in the most formidable storms. Every detail counts, from the sails to the safety equipment" she stresses. The Class 40 incorporates cutting-edge technologies that enable it to monitor weather and sea conditions in real time, essential data for optimizing maneuver planning. The solidity of its hull and its shallow draught also make it particularly well suited to the rough seas it has to face. Each expedition is a chance not only to explore new horizons, but also to test the limits of the partnership between sailor and yacht. Lisa expresses the unique synergy between them as follows: " My boat becomes an extension of myself. Sailing with her is like dancing with a partner. The harmony between us is essential to overcoming challenges" .
Chain-sailing records
In December 2018, between her two Antarctic records, Lisa Blair became the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Australia. She sails counterclockwise around the continent, including Tasmania, at an average speed of 4.69 knots, setting a new record for a monohull: 6,536 nautical miles covered in 58 days, 2 hours and 25 minutes.
In April 2024, it was another world record for the sailor, who completed a solo crossing from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand. Shaving more than 4 days off the previous record set by James Prascevic, she completed the 1,400 nautical mile voyage in 8 days, 3 hours and 19 minutes. Her course was punctuated by capricious weather conditions, including gusts in excess of 30 knots, thunderstorms, and periods of unsettling calm. " The weather and the sea put me to the test, and as the window was short, I barely slept i", she confided, exhausted after her intense sailing. Welcomed enthusiastically on her arrival off the island of Rangitoto, Lisa conquered not only the seas, but also the hearts of those who escorted her to the Westhaven marina.
So it was with determination and commitment that sailor Lisa Blair chose to multiply her records around Antarctica, Australia and between Sydney and Auckland. By redefining the limits of what is possible, Lisa is writing a new chapter in the record books, inviting all dreamers, with caution, to launch themselves beyond their borders, where the waves are waiting to be tamed.
By redefining the limits of what's possible, Lisa writes a new chapter in the record books, encouraging all dreamers to launch themselves, with caution, where the waves are waiting to be tamed.
