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.

Home is changing

WWSA's Shelley Wright shares ten of her favourite books by women solo sailors

Cruising in croc country

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

Record-breaking solo sailor Lisa Blair will embark on a new World Record sailing attempt tomorrow, April 7 th at 8am (NZST) to establish an Auckland to Auckland, New Zealand, sailing record over more than 2,200 nm on a circumnavigation not yet recorded. Only last month she set a fastest time record for Sydney to Auckland as the first woman and solo monohull record of 8 days, 3hrs and 19 minutes, taking over 4 days off the existing record, to be ratified by World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). Lisa will steer her yacht Climate Action Now from Westhaven Marina to a start off Rangitoto Island, supported by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), then head north out to Great Barrier Island beginning a journey rounding New Zealand’s northernmost point at Cape Reinga where two oceans collide as she crosses from the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea. The public can view her live tracker on the website and social posts each day. The anticipated 18-day voyage will take her down the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island heading into a predicted storm force wind system around New Plymouth where the imposing Mount Taranaki impacts the weather system before she crosses Cook Strait and into headwinds all down the West Coast of the South Island. As she reaches the south Fiordland region she will have no shelter from the Southern Ocean storms and dangerous swells before pressing south to round Stewart Island and the Southwest Cape where the sea depth dramatically reduces from 5km to 50 metres on the shelf causing noted rogue waves. Turning northwards past Dunedin headwinds are again predicted and major commercial fishing grounds with long line nets will provide a hazard before heading into major commercial and recreational boating regions all the way up the coast. This will test her resilience with 20-minute micro sleeps the whole journey home to avoid dangerous traffic and hazards. The record, to be adjudicated RNZYS in collaboration (CYCA) and WSSRC, will require her course to enclose the whole of New Zealand including all rocks and islands lying 8nm offshore – a rhumb line distance of 2,200nm, although her journey will be much longer to sail. Lisa is an ardent promoter of climate action with her several world record journeys involving the collection microplastic samples for scientific analysis and her awareness raising of ocean pollution issues as well as advocacy for solutions and change for the health of the ocean. “I want to see a happy and healthy planet and people won’t protect what they can’t understand so I try to share my love of the ocean and this planet with my records. I think adventurers have a responsibility to become story tellers and communicators,” said Lisa, who was named 2022 Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year. Lisa’s sustainability journey first started in 2012 while sailing around the world in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. “We were more than 20 days from land sailing across the Southern Ocean from South Africa to New Zealand. I was at the helm looking out when we crested a wave and there, off our bow was a Styrofoam box floating past. We were thousands of miles from land in the most remote regions of the planet and I was seeing plastic. I couldn’t believe it.” In 2015 Lisa launched her Climate Action Now message and began collecting post it note messages from people in the public. Lisa’s yacht Climate Action Now is adorned with thousands of messages of environmental actions from members of the community. 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 previous world records and now 2 new pending Sydney to Auckland records. In exciting news, Lisa has teamed up with film-makers Nathaniel C. T. Jackson and James Blannin-Ferguson to make a feature-length documentary tracking her ambitious and treacherous solo voyage around Antarctica. Screenings of the world premiere of Ice Maiden will be at the Doc Edge Festival which plays in Christchurch (19-30 June), Auckland (3-14 July), Wellington (3-14 July) and then nationwide via the virtual cinema (15-31 July). For more information visit docedge.nz Lisa's webpage is: www.lisablairsailstheworld.com

Sydney to Auckland arrival due today!

Island Cruising NZ is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Down Under Rally from its founder, John Hembrow. This exciting development marks a significant expansion for Island Cruising and reinforces its commitment to providing exceptional yacht rallies in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The Down Under Rally was founded by John Hembrow in 2015. Since then, John Hembrow, with the assistance of his wife, Leanne, has run a variety of yacht rallies and events both within Australia and the South Pacific. During this time, the Down Under Rally has provided the owners of cruising yachts with the opportunity to experience the cruising grounds of this beautiful part of the world, connect with the people of these locations and experience their unique cultures all in the company of like-minded individuals. As well as offering opportunities for Australian sailors to voyage to the South Pacific from Australia with the Go East Rally and NC2V Rally and, more recently, within Australia as part of the Beyond The Barrier Rally, the Down Under Rally's highly acclaimed Go West Rally encourages international cruisers to sail to Australia from the South Pacific and spend cyclone season enjoying the Australian hospitality whilst cruising the East Coast of Australia. Most Go West Rally participants also take this opportunity to carry out maintenance to their vessels in readiness for their onward voyages into Asia and beyond. With the acquisition of The Down Under Rally, Island Cruising is poised to further enhance the connection between Australian and New Zealand cruisers and to bring some fresh ideas and energy to the rallies that both companies offer. Viki Moore, the owner and visionary behind Island Cruising, has expressed her enthusiasm for this strategic acquisition. She stated, “We are thrilled to welcome the Down Under Rally members and supporters into the Island Cruising community. John and Leanne have done an outstanding job of creating and growing the Down Under Rally, and we are committed to building on their legacy by continuing to offer sailors unforgettable experiences in the South Pacific.” John and Leanne Hembrow would like to take this opportunity to express their gratitude to all those who have supported the Down Under Rally since its inception by either becoming a partner business, participating in a yacht rally, or becoming a Down Under Rally Member. John had this to say when asked what the future holds in store: “The future for me personally is uncertain at this time, but I can say with certainty that creating and running The Down Under Rally has been the most personally rewarding experience of my career. I am very proud of the achievements of the Down Under Rally over the past few years. The memories and the many friendships that I have made along the way are very precious to me. I am also confident that the combination of both Island Cruising & Down Under Rally will bring some great benefits to all our existing members and partner businesses. This is a positive step forward for both businesses, and I look forward to seeing the Down Under Rally flourish under Viki Moore’s leadership.” Island Cruising has been running yacht rallies for over thirty years, and Moore is the fifth owner of the business. Island Cruising NZ is renowned for its passion for cruising and promoting yachting tourism in the South Pacific in a sustainable way. “We aim to foster ongoing relationships with the communities we visit, educating sailors on how to be culturally sensitive and being aware of and reducing the impact we have on the environment,” Moore says. The company operates with a strong commitment to safety, camaraderie and sustainable practices in the Maritime Industry, and their efforts in this sphere have recently been officially recognised, with a Yachting New Zealand Excellence award as well as Best Yacht Rally 2023 in the Global Nautical Tourism Awards. The acquisition of the Down Under Rally is the beginning of a new and exciting phase for both companies. Island Cruising is looking forward to the opportunity to build on the solid foundation that John and Leanne Hembrow have established over the last eight years. For more information: Island Cruising: www.islandcruising.nz Island Cruising Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/islandcruising.nz Down Under Rally www.downunderrally.com Viki Moore: https:// www.linkedin.com/in/vikimoore/