UPDATE
Tuesday 9 April 2024 – 8.00 pm – Lisa Blair has set a World Sailing Speed Record Sydney to Auckland solo
Australian record-breaking solo sailor Lisa Blair has set two new World Sailing Speed Records (to be ratified by WSSRC) for the fastest time Sydney to Auckland and first woman, solo monohull record slicing an incredible more than 4 days off the record to finish in 8 days, 3hrs and 19 minutes.
The previous record set on the 22nd of January 2020, by retired Australian Veteran James Prascevic with a time of 12d 14h 41m 15s.
Lisa was greeted at the finish line off Rangitoto Island with a hooting welcome crowd before making her way escorted by hosts RNZYS to Westhaven Marina.
The journey of more than 1400 nms was peppered with fluky winds and lighting storms, squalls over 30 knots then hours of calm, a knock down and close encounters with vessels.
“On this trip the weather and seas threw every element at me and because it was a short window I have hardly slept and really pushed my settings the whole way. The boat has performed superbly but I am pretty exhausted,” she said after 8 sleep deprived days and nights.
Lisa’s campaign was to “Cross the Ditch for Climate Action Now” raising awareness of ocean pollution issues and advocating for everyone to make a change for the health of the ocean.
In coming days she will now embark on her next campaign sailing a new record for Auckland to Auckland around New Zealand to become the first person to complete the trip, solo, non-stop and unassisted, a voyage she anticipates will take 15 to 18 days to complete.
Lisa is the current world-record holder for sailing solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica in 2022, breaking the record by 10 days to add to her 4 other world records.
Following the NZ projects Lisa also has plans for an Arctic world record. The feature film about her Antarctic voyage, Ice Maiden, will have it’s world premiere at the Dock Edge Film Festival in NZ in June this year.
Tuesday 9 April 2024 – 9.00 am – Lisa Blair set to smash World Sailing Speed Record by more than 4 days – Sydney to Auckland arrival due today
The World Sailing Speed Record for Sydney to Auckland is set to be smashed by acclaimed Australian Solo Sailor Lisa Blair who is due to arrive across the finish line between North Head and Rangitoto Island between 3pm to 4pm NZST ( 1 – 2pm AEST) today, April 9, taking 4 days off the record.
She will claim the record for the fastest person and first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted from Sydney, Australia some 1200 nm to Auckland, New Zealand. Her arduous journey across the notorious Tasman Sea (The Ditch) has been marked by 30 knot squalls and fluky conditions including frustrating hours of virtual calm, a knock down mid Tasman and lightning storms but with little sleep over the 8-day journey she maintained a leading track over the previous record set in 2020 of 12 days and 14 hrs.
“On this trip the weather and seas threw every element at me and because it was a short window I have hardly slept and really pushed my settings the whole way. The boat has performed superbly but I am pretty exhausted and thrilled to be heading to this early finish and record and showcasing Climate Action now for a healthy ocean,” she said from onboard about 40 nm to the finish.
Lisa is sailing to promote Climate Action in her yacht called Climate Action Now adorned with messages from her followers and fans. See her website for details.
The record will be verified by The World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) and has been adjudicated by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) CEO Justine Kirkjian, in conjunction with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) General Manager Sarah Wiblin.
The original record was set on the 22nd of January 2020, by retired Australian Veteran James Prascevic when he set the solo, monohull record with a time of 12d 14h 41m 15s, whilst promoting awareness of PTSD.
Lisa is the current world-record holder for sailing solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica in 2022, breaking the record by 10 days to add to her 4 other world records.
Following this new record, Lisa will embark on another world-first sailing record, Auckland to Auckland around NZ, to become the first person to complete the trip, solo, non-stop and unassisted, a voyage she anticipates will take 15 to 18 days to complete.
