How do you buy a degree?
Shelley Wright • October 1, 2021
Women Who Sail Australia has two degrees! And a third on the way!
Women Who Sail Australia has two degrees! And a third on the way!
What?
I hear you ask. WWSA has been to uni?
No, not that type of degree. The navigational kind.
We know we have "l"attitude, well now we have longitude too!
But how does one obtain a degree of longitude?
Lisa Blair has been a key member of WWSA since the inaugural Women Who Sail Australia Gathering on the Bay (GOTB) 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 waters 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.
Amongst all this, Lisa somehow found the time to write about her Southern Ocean experiences in her debut book Facing Fear.
She also found time to attend the 2018 and 2019 GOTB events at Port Stephens (and was on track for 2020/21 but of course the pandemic had other plans for us all).
Having heard Lisa speak on numerous occasions I know her story well, she is a remarkable woman, and it came as no surprise when she told me she was planning a second circumnavigation of Antarctica, determined 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.
So where does a degree of longitude fit into this story?
Always thinking outside the box, Lisa came up with a novel way to raise funds for the upcoming circumnavigation. Sponsors can ‘purchase’ a degree of longitude!
WWSA members are always keen to support Lisa in any way we can, so we combined our pennies and bought a couple of degrees of longitude. As Lisa reaches our ‘degrees’ on her circumnavigation there will be much celebration!
If you’d like to read more about Lisa’s upcoming voyage and perhaps purchase a degree yourself (or encourage your local club to do so) go to Lisa’s webpage ‘Lisa Blair Sails the World’.
And be sure to snaffle a copy of her new book Facing Fear, available at good bookstores or from www.lisablairsailstheworld.com
PHOTO: Women Who Sail Australia 4th annual Gathering on the Bay (GOTB) at Port Stephens 2019. Lisa Blair front row.
From Yoga4Yachties to Finding Stillness Between the Waves
Gathering on the Bay 10th Anniversary!
The Pacific Rally 2026 is officially underway, with a fleet of nearly 190 vessels registered so far, and preparing to depart from key staging points across New Zealand & Australia in early May, marking the start of the South Pacific cruising season. Organised by Island Cruising, the flexible Pacific Rally has grown to become one of the largest organised yacht rallies in the world, attracting a diverse fleet ranging from 30-foot sailing yachts to 75-foot yachts & powerboats. Unlike traditional rallies, the flexible format means people are free to choose their own departure date, route and destinations, while still being able to tap into all the Island Cruising support and resources along the way. Over the last six months, rally participants have enjoyed regular online training sessions to help them get prepared for the adventures ahead. Then during the last two weeks, they have gathered to enjoy a range of briefings and social events at the Boat Works on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Marsden Cove Marina, and Bay of Islands Marina in New Zealand. There are additional vessels joining the rally along the way, including yachts crossing west from French Polynesia. Popular cruising grounds for rally participants include Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia, with many vessels planning onward passages to Asia or returning to New Zealand or Australia later in the season. “The Pacific Rally is about giving people the confidence to set sail,” says Viki Moore, Managing Director of Island Cruising. “We work hard to ensure participants are well-prepared, well-supported, and never feel like they are out there alone. That sense of connection makes a huge difference to both safety, fun and the overall experience.” Moore also works closely with the border officials across the Pacific to ensure everyone is prepared for the arrival formalities for each country along the way. Participants benefit from a comprehensive support framework, including pre-departure training, weather guidance, communications support, detailed guides on where to go, and access to a wide network of trusted marine partners. A strong community network — both online and on the water — is central to the rally, enhancing safety while creating a shared and social cruising experience. A key focus of the rally is responsible and respectful cruising. Through its partnership with Citizens of the Sea, some rally participants volunteer to collect Ocean eDNA samples on their passage and everyone is encouraged to engage with local communities in a culturally aware manner and contribute to environmental stewardship efforts throughout the Pacific. The success of the Pacific Rally is supported by an extensive network of marine industry partners across New Zealand and Australia & the South Pacific. These partners play a vital role in preparing vessels before they set sail and along the way, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge, equipment, and confidence needed for the journey ahead. As the fleet prepares to head offshore, anticipation is building for another season of cruising, connection, and exploration across one of the world’s most iconic sailing regions. For more information, visit: www.islandcruising.nz Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/islandcruising.nz More information about Citizens of the Sea - https://www.citizensofthesea.org/ Photo: Viki and Cecile are joined by partners from Yachting World Port Vila and Vuda Marina for the briefings at the BoatWorks
On improvements, unintended projects, and a boat that keeps evolving By Fiona Bengtsson
In a unique joint research partnership, world record explorer Lisa Blair OAM, the Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC (ACM CRC), UNSW Sydney, and Steber International are announcing the launch of a solution-focused research project: Sustainable Composites for Next Gen Boat Hulls. This two-year, $1.9 million research partnership aims to investigate the viability of Basalt Fibre (derived from volcanic rock) and current bio-resins as a scalable solution to outperform fibreglass and provide a circular solution to the growing industry problem. Following the initial research, Lisa Blair will build her new expedition yacht from these sustainable materials before setting off for her next record. Lisa is announcing her new world record attempt: ‘The Arctic Impact Project’. Lisa will be sailing in July 2027 to become the first person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the Arctic Circle in one season. The 8,000 nm journey will see Lisa tackle freezing conditions, dodge icebergs and spend an estimated 3 months solo at sea. Cover photo: Research Kick Off Meeting. Left-Right Scientia Professor Gangadhara, Luke Preston, Lisa Blair OAM, Jessica Mevel Soenecs. Insert Photo Alan Steber MD Steber International who was unable to attend but is a valued partner. Below: Lisa Blair OAM.
Home is changing
WWSA's Shelley Wright shares ten of her favourite books by women solo sailors
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NEW SAILING RECORD COURSE SET IN NZ BY SAILOR LISA BLAIR
Orcas, giant swells, and stunning sunsets accompany Lisa Blair on the home run for new sailing record
