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Self-discovery at sea: Isabelle’s extraordinary life as a solo yachtswoman

Jun 29, 2020

Communications & content manager

Some professions are truly the stuff of dreams. It’s hard to imagine living the life of a rare tea hunter, horse trainer, painter—or even single-handed sailor. Isabelle Joschke has made the latter her reality and spent years sailing solo around the world. On November 8, 2020, Joschke will compete in the Vendée Globe, the only round-the-world sailing race that is solo, non-stop, and without assistance. Unsurprisingly, she’s been training for years, with support from her sponsor, MACSF. During this extreme competition, she will pass the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn, navigate treacherous waves and icebergs, and also test her own limits and face her darkest fears. We speak to Joschke about her inspiring life.

Single-handed yachtswoman is a very poetic job title. Actually, I didn’t even know such a career existed. How did you get into it?

Each time I ask myself that question, I feel it’s pretty amazing that I ended up doing it for a living. I really wasn’t predestined for this in any way. I grew up far away from the sea. My father is German, and my mother is French. I spent my formative years on solid ground. At the same time, when I was a child, I was frustrated at not being able to row around the lake where we went on holiday in Austria.

When I was sitting my exams at 18, I found myself wanting to go sailing. When I took my first course at the sailing school Les Glénans my childhood dream came true: me on the sea, gliding over the waves. Nevertheless, I went on to study classics and did a master’s degree. But over the years, I was irresistibly drawn to the sense of freedom you have when sailing. It’s the first time I’ve used the word, but that’s really it: I had to face the fact that sailing was my calling.

Where did you go from there?

To begin with, I trained to become a professional skipper. When I entered this world I discovered offshore racing. I enjoyed it immensely, even though it was a very male-dominated sport. Apart from Florence Arthaud, the “Little Bride of the Atlantic” , there were only a few women, and in any case, the sails were designed for men. I could have given up before I started, but no. It was an urgent call coming from inside me. I was hooked.

Back then, if you wanted to take up sailing, you had to embrace a profession you couldn’t make a living from. I was a skipper for cruises and I owned a van. I lived in my van and saved almost every penny I earned.

Then I got into racing. I took all the money I’d saved and borrowed some as well. To finance this project, I would work for three months as a skipper, and then the rest of the year I’d spend my wages training for the races. After two years, I got my first sponsors. That was a milestone for me because I couldn’t have lasted much longer. From that moment onwards, I was able to make a living from it. At first, it was a pittance, but I was then able to earn a small salary. Most of it went on the boat, sails, and insurance. But it allowed me to turn my passion into my job, and that’s priceless!

What do you love most about your job?

I love being surrounded by nature, being on the water and, more than anything, being alone. Facing myself in this way has taught me a lot. Day after day, every sensation on the boat is exhilarating. I feel it when she glides through the water, the wind, and the sea spray on my skin. When you don’t know the sea, you think it’s always the same. As a matter of fact, the swell rolls, the colors shift, the wind intensifies, the clouds sail on—everything is so alive!

How do you feel about solitude?

This might be hard to believe, but I’ve never felt so supported as when I’m at sea. On the water, you need to connect with all the elements, especially when you’re competing. But being alone, you also put yourself in danger. With a crew of two, you can sleep. When sailing solo, you never really sleep for longer than 40 minutes. Alone, I’m confronted with my struggles, my deepest fears. It’s extremely difficult. If there’s a squall and I’ve only been asleep for five minutes, I must jump out of bed to furl my sails in the dark, sometimes with no moonlight. It then takes all my energy to stay calm and not go overboard because of the swell. Such dangers are offset by the promise of experiencing everything more intensely. When I come across a pod of dolphins or whales, my closeness to them makes the connection stronger.

“I love being surrounded by nature, being on the water and, more than anything, being alone. Facing myself in this way has taught me a lot.”

Do you ever get scared on your expeditions?

Yes, for sure. Regularly. That happened to me on the Route du Rhum [a transatlantic single-handed yacht race], in the middle of a storm, in the dead of night. There was no moon, no stars, and the waves were five meters high. My mast broke: I had to hurry and cut all the rigging holding it so that it would sink before putting holes in my hull. The waves were rolling onto the deck; I held on as best I could. Without sails, with very little leeway in terms of fuel, I was lucky that the wind brought me back to Brittany.

Another time, I did the Transat (east-to-west) on a 12-meter yacht. During this race, the hull began to crack and take on water. I had to change course toward Canada. And then I entered a zone of icebergs. The meteorologist with whom I was in contact had officially advised me not to spend the night there. Cargo ships don’t do rescues in these dangerous areas, which meant I couldn’t count on getting help if I hit an iceberg, but I had no choice. At that moment in time, my fate was no longer in my hands. Getting shipwrecked in this water temperature is rather difficult. But I accepted the risk and got everything ready for landing: water, food, a survival blanket, and distress flares. As crazy as it sounds, I went to get some rest, just so I’d be in good form if the need arose. It was the first time when confronted by such immediate danger, I kept calm and overcame my fear.

For a long time, I’ve sought to confront complicated situations to feel alive. Each time I overcome my fears, I feel as if I’ve surpassed myself. It’s incredibly liberating. I gain athletic potential and independence.

What do you miss most when you’re sailing?

Life on board is very uncomfortable. You must hold on all the time just in case a wave tosses you from one side of the boat to the other, even below deck. Bumps can be violent. Apart from that, what I miss most is being able to sleep for several hours straight. At night, you sleep a total of two to four hours, in small chunks. Every 15 minutes, you have to sheet in (tighten) or ease out (release) the sails to move as quickly as possible.

Next, I miss tasty, fresh meals. On board, I have only a burner, a pot, and a kettle. I eat food with a long shelf life, such as rice, oily fish, and dried fruit. Often, I miss fresh vegetables from the market.

Finally, when you’re at sea, you almost forget what it’s like to feel hot. It’s cold and wet all the time. When I’m getting changed, I’m wet before I’ve taken off my clothes. So, when I’m on land and my skin is dry, that is a real comfort.

Still, it’s clear that your passion runs deep. Can you tell us about an incredible experience you’ve had at sea?

That notorious day when I dismasted on the Route du Rhum, a few hours after sunrise, when I was in the middle of the storm. The atmosphere was sort of yellow, weird, and apocalyptic. It was a painful time —I blamed dropping out of the race on it. And then I saw some pilot whales speeding along. They’re strange mammals, like a cross between a dolphin and a small whale. They would come in with the waves and surf on them next to the boat. Not one, not ten, but 50, maybe 100! It was the first time I’d seen so many at once. Having these peaceful whales next to me during this ordeal really warmed my heart.

Is sailing your job or your passion?

Both. I find it wholly fulfilling, so you could call it a passion. But sometimes it’s really hard work. Even thankless. I’m super diligent, I like to do things properly, and I don’t cut corners on training. For example, getting ready offshore on January 15 while it’s snowing is tough! Even pulling on the frozen ropes hurts. So, I’d say I’m passionate about my profession, I’m fully committed to it and I embrace whatever challenges come my way so I can achieve my goals as an athlete.

“For a long time, I’ve sought to confront inextricable situations to feel alive. Each time I overcome my fears, I feel as if I’ve surpassed myself. It’s incredibly liberating.”

Your next goal is to join the exclusive club of round-the-world solo sailors. What challenges are involved in this project?

Sailing non-stop around the world solo and without assistance is already quite a challenge in itself. You have to navigate three rugged capes—Good Hope, Leeuwin, and Horn—and it’s dangerous. You could fall into the water, get hurt where there’s no emergency response, or hit a shipping container and be shipwrecked. You’re putting your life on the line. It’s more intense than anything you’ve ever experienced, a bit like climbing Everest.

Besides, I’ve been working towards this race for five years. The risk is you might not even finish. It’s a mechanical sport: if I lose my mast or break part of the boat, all is lost in terms of the final performance.

Ultimately, my biggest challenge is confronting myself. To find my limits. To take my commitment to the highest level. To come up against the freezing cold seas of the extreme south, the raging swell, the panic. I want to see how well I adapt to these extreme conditions. I know I’ll come out of it a stronger person.

What changes when you are a woman in this sport?

I’m tempted to say “nothing” , but that would be inaccurate. I weigh a bit more than 50kg and I’m 5ft 2in. Sailing is a mixed sport, so compared with some of the other competitors, you might say I’m at a disadvantage. I sailed double-handed this year with a young man, and when he’s hauling the ropes, he’s twice as strong as me. When I began racing, I felt I had to catch up. I went through years of overtraining and extreme fatigue. At a certain point, I finally realized that I was limited because of my size. I had to take a break and use my potential in a different way. Now I do Pilates. For me, being flexible is part of the preparation, to avoid hurting myself. To win, you have to know how to manage your rig [the boat] and your body.

What’s more, we women have some great strengths. We’re resilient, reckless, and tenacious. Many women place well in relation to participation rates. Seven women have taken part in the Vendée Globe: one finished second and another finished fourth. Those two results are incredible.

We still call ships “she”, although there is some debate about changing that. Do you think that gender equality in the profession will also change through language?

Absolutely! In France, for example, when we have the weather briefing at the start of a race, you’ll hear the phrases “tough guy” or “lady weather” to say whether it’s going to be horrid or lovely out. The semantics shape everyone’s subconscious so that suddenly being a captain is for guys. At the same time, I believe that if you get more women into the profession, the language will follow. A successful woman in sailing must be normalized, without saying she has to use the same weapons as men. Boats that are adapted to female morphology should be common practice, just like Ellen MacArthur in 2001, who had her boat custom-built [for the Vendée Globe].

Speaking of which, you are committed to breaking down the gender divide with your charitable organization, Horizon Mixité. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Certainly. The organization seeks to promote diversity in every field. We focus on offshore racing to convey that message, especially to young people. I find that many cognitive biases are instilled in children from an early age, consciously or sometimes even implicitly and unintentionally. As a result, women have less self-confidence in certain areas, such as competitions or work. I had to foster my competitive spirit alone. I had to pave my own way, by myself. That’s why I wanted to convey the message: yes, you can be a woman, feminine and small, and still be in a hard and physically demanding profession such as round-the-world sailing.

Translated by Andrea Schwam

Photos: Christophe Favreau and Ronan Gladu

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13 Top female sailors

Here's our pick of some of the most inspiring yachtswomen. Who's your inspiration?

These 13 women have all achieved excellence as sailors, accomplishing astonishing feats of bravery, stamina and skill at the helm.

From single-handed circumnavigations of the globe to Olympic gold medals, these are some of our favourite female trailblazers in the world of sailing. Who would you add to the list of top female sailors? Tweet us on @ybw

Dame Ellen MacArthur “Courage is not having the energy to go on, it’s going on when you do not have the energy.”

Dame Ellen MacArthur broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe, completing the 27,354 nautical mile trip in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds. She beat the previous record by one day, eight hours, 35 minutes and 49 seconds.

The retired British sailor loved life on the water from a young age and has previously competed in the Mini Transat solo transatlantic race and the Vendee Globe solo round-the-world sailing race.

Since then, Ellen has launched two charities, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation .

Follow EllenMacArthur on Twitter

Shirley Robertson, MBE and OBE

This Scottish sailor made it into the history books when she became the first British woman to win two Olympic gold medals at two consecutive Olympic games, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 competing in the Yngling class. She went on to be named female World Sailor of the Year by the International Sailing Federation and was awarded an MBE in 2000 and an OBE in 2005.

Shirley worked hard to raise the profile of the sport, presenting and producing CNN’s Mainsail programme and as a BBC Olympic sailing commentator in Weymouth during the London 2012 Olympics. She is also the only woman to take the helm on the superyacht circuit steering the stunning 45-metre Salperton in three regattas in the Caribbean and Sardina.

Follow Shirley on Twitter

Dame Naomi James “What I did was completely different. Ellen is a professional racer; I was an adventurer.”

Dame Naomi James was the first woman to sail single-handed around the world via Cape Horn. She left Dartmouth in Devon on 9 September 1977 and returned 272 days later on 8 June 1978.

New Zealand-born Naomi was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1979 in recognition of her achievements.

Crazy voyages: sailors who took to the sea without any sailing experience

Tracy Edwards

Credit: Tanya Visser/PPL

Tracy Edwards , MBE, entered her first Whitbread Round the World race at the age of 23. She made history by leading the first all-female crew to the finish line of the Whitbread Round the World Race on board Maiden in the 89-90 race. Her 12 crew won two legs and finished second in its class, the best performances in the race by a British boat since 1977. Edwards is currently busy restoring her beloved Maiden to her former glory.

Tracy Edwards’ iconic yacht Maiden is coming home

Clare Francis

Clare Francis, MBE, was working in marketing when she decided to sail singlehandedly across the Atlantic in 1973.  A year later she took part in the Round Britain Race with Eve Bonham, finishing in third place. The high achiever went on to be the first woman to skipper a yacht in the 1977-1978 Whitbread Round the World Race. She and her Swan 65 finished in 5th place. To add to her impressive achievements, the former yachtswoman is now an international bestselling author with 12 fiction novels under her belt and four non fiction. She is also a trustee of the charity Action for M.E., which raises money and awareness for sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Laura Dekker “There were moments where I was like, ‘What the hell am I doing out here?,’ but I never wanted to stop.”

At the age of 13, Laura Dekker announced she wanted to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handedly, prompting the Guinness World Records to stop recognising records for “youngest” sailors.

The Dutch authorities objected to her plans and she fought a 10-month court battle to follow her dream. She eventually persuaded judges to allow her departure after agreeing to upgrade to a bigger boat with better navigation equipment, undertake training in first aid and learn how to cope with sleep deprivation.

In August 2010, she set sail on her epic journey onboard her two-masted ketch and arrived, 5,600 nautical miles later, at Simpson Bay on St Maarten in January 2012 – breaking the world record. She was only 16 years and four months of age.

Jeanne Socrates “I’m not really an armchair and slippers person.”

In 2013, British sailor Jeanne Socrates became the oldest woman to sail solo round the world non-stop. This was the 70-year-old’s third attempt to complete the 25,000-mile circumnavigation on her 38ft yacht Nereida.

After 259 days at sea, Jeanne returned triumphant back to British shores. Earlier this year she was awarded with the Cruising Club of America’s Blue Water Medal following her successful voyage.

Read Jeanne Socrate’s blog

Pippa Wilson, MBE

Pippa Wilson continues to be one of the UK’s best female sailors. She won a gold medal in the Yngling sailing class at the 2008 Beijing Olympics along with Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton, gold in two World Championships and gold in one European Championships.

Follow Pippa on Twitter

Sarah Ayton, OBE

Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton is another of the UK’s most successful British female sailors. With two Olympic gold medals under her belt, along with two gold World Championship medals and one gold European Championship medal.

Sarah won an Olympic gold medal alongside Shirley Robertson and Sarah Gosling in the Yngling sailing class in 2004, and again in 2008 with Pippa Wilson and Sarah Gosling.

Follow Sarah on Twitter

Sarah Gosling, OBE

This Olympian is another of Britain’s great female sailors, having won two Olympic gold medals, two gold World Championship medals and one gold European Championship medal.

Sarah won all her medals in the Yngling sailing class alongside Shirley Robertson, Pippa Wilson and Sarah Ayton. Already an MBE, Sarah was awarded an OBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list.

Denise “Dee” Caffari, MBE

Record-setting Dee Caffari came to sailing relatively late after spending five years as a physical education teacher. In 2006, Caffari became the first woman to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe against prevailing winds and currents after 178 days at sea, having started in late 2005.

Just under three years later, in February 2009, Dee Caffari completed the Vendee Globe race, setting a new record and becoming the first woman to sail around the world in both directions.

Follow Dee on Twitter

Kay Cottee, AO 

Awarded the Order of Australia, Cottee was the first woman to successfully complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe. Cottee achieved the feat in 1988 in her 11m yacht Blackmores First Lady, and she did it in just 189 days.

Cottee established the trip that is routinely tried by sailors chasing speed records and completed it alone, without stopping and without assistance. She was even washed overboard when her yacht capsized in 20 foot waves. Her achievement is as impressive as it is daunting to imagine, and fortunately she didn’t celebrate the achievement alone: nearly 100,000 Australians were awaiting her in Sydney Harbour when she returned.

Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz

And last, but certainly not least, the first woman to circumnavigate the globe is also a sea captain and shipbuilding engineer. Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz set off on February 28, 1976 from the Canary Islands on her own in her 10m yacht Mazurek, returning 401 days later on April 21, 1978.

The Polish sailor has been called the “First Lady of the Oceans” and was inducted into the elite Explorers Club in New York. She narrowly beat New Zealander Naomi James (above) who completed her own circumnavigation on June 8, 1978.

Jessica Watson's partner dies in Gold Coast hospital, six weeks after 'catastrophic' stroke

By Tara Cassidy

By Heidi Sheehan

ABC Gold Coast

Topic: Sailing

Jessica Watson shared news of her long-time partner Cameron Dale's death on social media on Wednesday.   ( Instagram: Jessica Watson )

Cameron Dale, the long-term partner of around-the-world sailor Jessica Watson has died in a Gold Coast hospital, six weeks after suffering a catastrophic stroke.

Key points:

• Cameron Dale died six weeks after suffering a catastrophic stroke
• He had been receiving treatment at the Gold Coast University Hospital
• His partner, Jessica Watson, wrote a heartfelt tribute on social media describing her "indescribable grief"

Watson took to social media yesterday to share her "indescribable grief" over the loss of her partner of 10 years.

Dale had been receiving treatment at the Gold Coast University Hospital for the past six weeks following a serious stroke.

Watson — who became famous when she circumnavigated the globe at the age of 16 — confirmed on social media that her partner had died on Monday.

"On Monday, 30 August 2021 we lost our Cam," she wrote.

"My long-term partner in every aspect of life and planned future. Cam and I have been inseparable since 2011, our shared world centred on messing about on boats.

Jessica Watson's property developer partner, Cameron Dale, suffered a catastrophic stroke six weeks ago. ( Instagram: Jessica Watson )

"Describing what Cam means to be is impossible, everyone who knows us knows how much we simply loved each other.

"Cam has given me the person I've become with him, I take enormous strength from having been so devotedly loved, the years of treasured memories offer enormous comfort.

Jess Watson told her social media followers that 'the years of treasured memories offer enormous comfort'.   ( Instagram: Jessica Watson )

"Being Cam's Jess is the role I'm most proud of".

Watson initially rose to fame in 2009, when she became the youngest person to sail solo around the world, unassisted.

Since arriving back in Sydney Harbour on May 15, 2010 — as the youngest person to sail, solo and non-stop, around the world — Watson has completed a Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne's Deakin University and a Master of Business Administration from the AIM's Business School.

She was named Young Australian of the Year in 2011, has since written two books and now a movie about her sailing journey is being filmed on the Gold Coast.

How solo yachtswoman's life changed

Jessica Watson (left) shared a love of sailing with her long-term partner, Cameron Dale.  ( Instagram. )

Dale and Watson routinely enjoyed time out on the water sailing. In fact, that was where they met a decade ago.

Watson, now 27, works as a management consultant for a major accounting firm and Dale was a property developer.

The pair, who were living in Melbourne, visited New York together in early 2019, enjoying exploring the Big Apple and skating at Central Park.

They came back for regular visits to Queensland and see Jessica's parents, Roger and Julie Watson, and her siblings, Hannah, Emily and Tom.

The couple were in Queensland when Dale fell ill.

In her social media tribute, Watson also thanked the "dedicated care" Dale had received at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Dale was 29 when he died.

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Lisa blair has set a world sailing speed record sydney to auckland solo, 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.

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.

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Home News Lisa Blair becomes first woman to solo circumnavigate Antarctica

Lisa Blair becomes first woman to solo circumnavigate Antarctica

AUSTRALIAN YACHTSWOMAN Lisa Blair has sailed into the record books, finishing a massive ocean odyssey to become the first woman to solo circumnavigate Antarctica. Lisa undertook her epic journey as the recipient of the 2017 Australian Geographic Society Nancy Bird Walton Sponsorship, which supports ground-breaking projects led by women. The official record time for Lisa’s circumnavigation is 184 days, taking into account eight weeks spent repairing her vessel in Cape Town, South Africa, after it was dismasted 895 nautical miles off of the Cape of Good Hope in April (see AG139).

After spending 104 days at sea on her 15m yacht Climate Action Now, battling snow storms, sea sickness and the dismasting, Lisa was met on Tuesday afternoon by crowds cheering her across King George Sound and into Albany, on Western Australia’s southern coastline. She described the trip as a “rollercoaster” noting her dismasting and having to jury-rig the vessel as one of the “really tough times”.

“I did almost quit,” Lisa acknowledged. “I rang mum up several times in tears, saying it’s too hard, too dangerous.” But, she added, it’s been worth it.

 “It was as hard as I imagined and even harder at times, but it was one hell of an adventure and that was what I was out there for.”

Lisa was met on Tuesday afternoon by crowds cheering her across King George Sound and into Albany, on Western Australia’s southern coastline. (Image Credit: Corrina Ridway)

Just to make it a voyage to remember to the very end, the weather gave Lisa one last set of obstacles. After heavy going that saw her “smashed” in storm after storm, weather conditions lightened off and winds dropped and swung against her in the final 24 hours. “But that’s the challenges of sailing and being on a boat in the middle of the ocean,” Lisa said.

Lisa crossed the finish line at 17.42 according to World Speed Sailing Council Commissioner, Mark McRae. He welcomed Lisa back to Albany, saying, “It is an amazing achievement and I congratulate her on completing one of the toughest and most challenging voyages.”

An elated Lisa described herself as running on adrenaline during the last day. “I’m pretty stoked, I definitely won’t be sleeping tonight,” she said before going on to spend the night celebrating her return with family and friends.

Although the 32-year-old doesn’t intend to attempt the feat again, she is already considering other adventures. “I’ve definitely got my eye on other trips,” she said. “I’m not stopping sailing for my adventures, it’s just fueled the fire a little bit more.”

Blair set out on her circumnavigation attempt to raise awareness about human impact on the planet through climate change, after noticing the effects while sailing. She plans to attend the Sydney International Boat Show on 3–7 August.

 READ MORE:

• Nancy Bird-Walton sponsorship .
• EVENT: Celebrate women in adventure .

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Australian Lisa Blair begins bid to set another Antarctic solo sailing record

Australian yachtswoman lisa blair nearly lost her life in the southern ocean in 2017, but she is again preparing to set sail with eyes on an antarctic record..

Lisa Blair is setting sail from WA in her bid to become the fastest to sail solo around Antarctica. Source: AAP

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The World’s Most Famous Female Sailors Literally From Around the World

Sailing is a sport that has been practiced for thousands of years, but for most of that time, it has been a male-dominated field. However, in the modern era, female sailors have made significant strides and contributions to the sport. Many have shattered barriers and set new records, proving that sailing is not just a man’s game.

In this article, we will be looking at the top 10 female sailors in history. These women have left an indelible mark on the sport of sailing, and their accomplishments have inspired countless others to follow in their wake.

The World’s Most Famous Female Sailors

Krystyna chojnowska-liskiewicz.

Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz, born on July 15, 1936, in Poland, achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first woman to sail solo around the world. Dubbed the “First Lady of the Oceans,” she embarked on her journey from the Canary Islands on March 28, 1976, and returned on April 21, 1978, covering a total distance of 31,166 nautical miles (57,719 km) during her 401-day circumnavigation. Her achievement narrowly beat that of New Zealander Naomi James, who completed her own solo circumnavigation on June 8, 1978.

Kay Cottee, who was awarded the Order of Australia, made history in 1988 by becoming the first woman to successfully complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe. Using her 11-meter yacht Blackmores First Lady, Cottee accomplished this feat in an astonishing 189 days. During her solo journey, she faced numerous challenges, including being washed overboard when her yacht capsized in 20-foot waves. Despite these obstacles, she managed to complete the task on her own, without stopping or receiving any assistance.

Laura Dekker

Laura Dekker, a New Zealand-born Dutch sailor, was born on September 20, 1995. At just 13 years of age, she announced her intention to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. However, local authorities initially objected, and a Dutch court prevented her from departing while under shared custody of both parents. It was not until July 2010 that a Dutch family court ended the custody arrangement, allowing Laura to finally embark on her record-breaking attempt on August 21, 2010. She completed the solo circumnavigation aboard a 12.4-meter (40 ft) two-masted ketch named Guppy, arriving in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, 518 days later at the age of 16.

Naomi James

Dame Naomi Christine James, born on March 2, 1949, in New Zealand, achieved two major milestones in solo sailing. She became the first woman to sail single-handed around the world via Cape Horn, and the second woman to complete a solo circumnavigation after Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz. James embarked on her journey from Dartmouth, Devon on September 9, 1977, and completed the trip in 272 days, arriving back on June 8, 1978. Her accomplishment improved upon Sir Francis Chichester’s solo round-the-world sailing record by two days.

Ellen MacArthur

Dame Ellen MacArthur, a now-retired English sailor, was born on July 8, 1976. She made history by breaking the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe, completing the 27,354 nautical mile journey in just 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes, and 33 seconds. This feat surpassed the previous record by one day, eight hours, 35 minutes, and 49 seconds. However, the record was later reclaimed by Francis Joyon, a male French sailor who surpassed MacArthur’s time in early 2008.

Galia Moss, born in Mexico, made history in 2006 by becoming the first Latin American woman to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her journey took just 41 days, earning her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. The attempt was also a charitable endeavor, as Moss collaborated with an NGO to donate a home to a Mexican family for every eight nautical miles she navigated. In total, she donated 644 homes, making her accomplishment even more remarkable.

Grace O’Malley

Born in Ireland around 1530, Grace O’ Malley is considered one of the best female sailors in the World ever. Despite having a brother, upon the death of her father, Eoghan Dubhdara, it was Grace who took overactive leadership of the “Ó Máille” lordship by land and sea to protect the west Ireland region from the growing threat of the English crown. Her extraordinary career earned her the nickname, “The Pirate Queen”. She was better than most of his male counterparts at her prime and is considered the greatest female ‘pirate’ of the world ever.

Shirley Robertson

Shirley Ann Robertson, a British sailor born on July 15, 1968, is an Olympic gold medalist. She made history by becoming the first British woman to win two Olympic gold medals in consecutive games, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. In 2000, she was named female World Sailor of the Year by the International Sailing Federation. Robertson is also a trailblazer in the superyacht circuit, being the only woman to take the helm of the stunning 45-meter Salperton in three regattas in the Caribbean and Sardina.

Jeanne Socrates

Circumnavigating the world alone is already a difficult task but imagine doing it at 70 years old! Jeanne Socrates, a British yachtswoman born on August 17, 1942, became the oldest woman to accomplish this feat in 2013. Her record still stands today. Socrates is also the only woman to have circumnavigated solo nonstop from North America. Her 259-day journey at sea earned her the prestigious Cruising Club of America’s Blue Water Medal and the Royal Cruising Club Medal for Seamanship.

Skipper Thuridur

Thuridur, born in 1777, was one of the earliest female sailors in the world. At the age of just 11, she joined her father’s fishing crew and quickly became an efficient sailor, with exceptional skills in rowing and steering heavy wooden boats. Thuridur’s ability to navigate in all sea conditions made her one of the most successful fishing captains, never losing a crew member for many years. She is considered a remarkable figure in Icelandic maritime history and passed away at the age of 86.

Visit Grays Harbor to Learn More About the Sea’s History

If you love learning about maritime history and want to know more, we encourage you to check out the other valuable information we offer! Grays Harbor Historical Seaport’s mission is to provide recreational experiences and education that connects to maritime history. We’re a non-profit public authority located right in Aberdeen, WA, and we’ve provided hands-on learning experiences for people of all backgrounds and ages for over 25 years aboard the tall ship Lady Washington. By exploring our daily connections to the oceans of the world and their shared history, along with a historical sailing ship, our programs emphasize teamwork and empowerment. Get in touch with us today.

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Australian of the Year

Visit australia day website.

Kay Cottee AO

Solo yachtswoman, 1988 australian of the year.

Born into a Sydney yachting family, Kay Cottee developed a childhood ambition to sail around the world. In her twenties she became a proficient boat builder and managed a yacht charter business on Sydney’s northern beaches. She subsequently built the First Lady, in which she became the first woman to circumnavigate the world non-stop and unassisted.

On her epic 189-day journey Cottee set seven world records, returning to a rapturous reception from tens of thousands of spectators on Sydney Harbour in June 1988. Cottee’s Australian of the Year award recognised her inspirational feat, but also honoured her extensive efforts in raising over $1,000,000 for the Life Education Centres of Reverend Ted Noffs. Cottee observed, ‘I think national pride is growing and the land of the great knockers is fading out. A lot of people didn’t take me seriously when I started my journey, but everyone joined in as I got further along the way.’

NADC acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and emerging Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and recognises their continuous connection to country, community and culture. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

clock This article was published more than  5 years ago

Lone female sailor in round-the-world ‘Voyage for Madmen’ is stranded in the Southern Ocean

Two thousand miles west of Cape Horn, in the Southern Ocean that circles Antarctica, a 29-year-old woman wondered “WHAT ON EARTH I’M DOING OUT HERE.”

This desperate question was posed in a text that rang out Wednesday from Susie Goodall as she met a storm bringing 60-knot winds that wrecked her mast and threw her 35-foot Rustler cruising yacht end over end. She was on Day 157 of a quest to circumnavigate the globe when the yacht began doing somersaults, sending the boat’s contents flying and knocking her unconscious for an interval.

Now, the solo yachtswoman is stranded on the high seas, the closest rescue ship at least two days away.

The native of Falmouth, in southwestern England, was the youngest and the lone female contestant in a round-the-world sailing competition known as the 2018 Golden Globe Race. The contest began in July in Les Sables-d’Olonne, a seaside town in western France.

The 30,000-mile route winds its way down the Atlantic and eastward, passing South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin and Chile’s Cape Horn before heading back up the Atlantic to the French coast. Eighteen people entered from 13 countries, including the United States, Estonia and India.

View this post on Instagram That’s 2 capes under the belt! She passed Cape Leeuwin today and is flying along at 6.6 knots, making impressive gains on 3rd place. ⛵️🎉 . #solo #sailing #roundtheworld #ggr2018 #capeleeuwin #australia #indian #ocean A post shared by Susie Goodall Racing (@susiegoodallracing) on Oct 16, 2018 at 1:34pm PDT

Goodall had been in fourth place in the contest, which commemorates the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. The original competition, labeled “ A Voyage for Madmen " by a 2001 book on the maritime match, was the first solo, nonstop sailing race around the world. Nine men entered. Only one finished. The rest either retired or sank and were rescued, while one committed suicide.

This year’s contest marks the 50th anniversary of the original race, which drew inspiration from Francis Chichester, the first person to sail solo around the world with only one stop, in Australia. The 65-year-old Englishman — tall and thin and with thick-lensed glasses — was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II upon his return in 1967.

Chichester’s adventure generated widespread popular interest as it was recounted in breathless headlines in the Sunday Times. The following year, the newspaper announced that it would sponsor a competition for what was, after Chichester’s feat, “the last challenge left to man," as an account of the race’s history described the undertaking: sailing nonstop around the globe.

The race begun in 1968 was not without casualties. Donald Crowhurst, a British entrepreneur, pretended he was sailing around the world when in fact he was moving in circles in the Atlantic Ocean and transmitting false coordinates. “Ultimately this deception played out a twisted route in his mind, all described with great detail in his log to the point he finally slipped over the side in an apparent suicide,” the race history recounts of his death in July 1969. The tale of dissimulation and death was rendered on the big screen in “The Mercy,” a 2017 drama starring Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz.

Only one man finished: Robin Knox-Johnston. He was knighted for his exploits, undertaken in a 32-foot ketch-rigged, double-ended yacht called “Suhaili.” Recounting the experience in a 1969 memoir, “ A World of My Own ," he included excerpts from journal entries made at sea. “Ennui has set in with a vengeance; part of this is due to the fact that we are being thrown about a great deal and I cannot hold much steady,” he wrote.

To pay tribute to Knox-Johnston’s travails, the participants in the 2018 contest were allowed to use only equipment available to Knox-Johnston in the 1960s. This meant setting off without satellite-based navigation aids. The design of their yachts had to be from before 1988.

A challenge like that was too enticing to pass up for Goodall.

“My family have always sailed and I grew up sailing with them,” she wrote on her racing page . She got her first boat, a Laser 1, when she was 11, but sold it to pay for additional training. At 17, she moved to the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of England, to work as a sailing instructor.

When she was 21, she landed her first job on a yacht, in Australia. She bounced around a few different boats before joining Rubicon 3 , which offers long voyages around some of the most remote parts of the North Atlantic, including Greenland and the Baltic. Her final two years on board were as skipper.

Meanwhile, she dreamed of even farther-flung adventures.

“When I was little I heard about these people who sailed around the world on their own, for fun, and I knew I wanted to do that one day too,” she wrote. “So when I first heard there was going to be a rerun of the Golden Globe Race, my mind was made up and I was going to be on that start line.”

By August, she was cruising toward the Canary Islands. In September, she rounded the Cape of Good Hope. Then, it was onward through the Indian Ocean. She fed herself from tiny jars of French food and drank juiced vegetables .

As she passed Tasmania, off Australia’s southern coast, Goodall recorded a brief video at the end of October, saying she had just passed a “brutal” spell of weather. “I will do what I can to avoid a storm like that again,” she vowed.

Taking advantage of gentler weather, she planned to clear barnacles from the bottom of her boat and fix her wind vane, she said. “It’s a real boat now because it leaks,” she quipped.

Her favorite gadget on board was a portable cassette player, she said. “I’ve had it going all evening — all day actually," she said.

She mostly missed fresh food and the ability to go for a walk, saying her legs had grown thinner. She struggled to find words to describe the adventure. “I’d never sailed around the world before, so I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said.

After making it through the first storm in the Southern Ocean, Goodall hoped for smooth seas. She wouldn’t be so lucky, as she learned when she neared the southern tip of South America.

In a text message to race control at 8:29 a.m. on Wednesday, she wrote that her yacht was “TAKING A HAMMERING!” It made her ask why she had chosen to sail to the edge of the earth.

Two-and-a-half hours later, Falmouth Coastguard picked up a distress signal from her boat and alerted race control and authorities with Chile’s Maritime Search and Rescue, which is responsible for the area. An update from the yachtswoman came a little over an hour later.

“TOTAL LOSS,” she wrote, explaining that no repair, or “JURY RIG,” would mend the problem. When the vessel filled with water, she thought she had driven a hole in the hull. But the main body of the boat remained intact.

“The hull is okay,” she reported when race headquarters reached her on an emergency satellite phone. “The boat is destroyed. I can’t make up a jury rig. The only thing left is the hull and deck, which remain intact.”

Meanwhile, she sustained a “nasty head bang” and, after regaining consciousness, spent hours removing debris to prevent additional damage. She also reported that she had been “beaten up and badly bruised.”

“The hull of the boat is unbreached, and Susie is safe,” according to a statement from Susie Goodall Racing.

The wayward sailor was able to provide intermittent updates on Twitter, writing that she was “TOTALLY & UTTERLY GUTTED!” Her Twitter location is set to “The Seven Seas.”

“CLINGING ON IN MY BUNK,” she added in a series of tweets that started with “73,” her race number. By Thursday morning, however, she had come to find at least some humor in her situation, or at least room for more prosaic concerns. She pined for a cup of tea.

73-THIS MOTION IS JUST HORRIBLE!CLINGING ON IN MY BUNK. — SusieGoodallRacing (@susieBgoodall) December 5, 2018

73-IN NEED OF A GOOD CUPPA TEA! BUT SADLY NO COOKER — SusieGoodallRacing (@susieBgoodall) December 6, 2018

Race officials said there were limited options in coming to Goodall’s aid. Her nearest competitor, Estonian Uku Randmaa, was 400 miles ahead of her and about to face down the same conditions, “so it is impractical for him to turn about.” Istvan Kopar, an American Hungarian sailor, was 780 miles to the west and would need six days to reach her. Chilean authorities were ultimately able to make contact with a ship 480 miles southwest of Goodall’s position. The captain expects to reach her in about two days.

As the storm moved east, Goodall said she didn’t require immediate assistance. Winds had dropped to 45 knots, race officials said.

Goodall spoke with emotion, but sounded in control, according to headquarters.

Asked in October, after the first bout of dreadful weather, if the ocean was friend or foe, she answered: “The ocean is a friend who turns on me now and again.”

View this post on Instagram Susie arrived at the Hobart gate (Tasmania) earlier today after a wonderful sail, looking all chipper! 🤩 . She’s spending the night there to fix her wind-vane and scrape some barnacles before sailing on in the morning.. 🌅 . 📸: @christophefavreau . #solo #ocean #racing #roundtheworld #ggr2018 #yolo #goldenglobes2018 #dhl #starlight A post shared by Susie Goodall Racing (@susiegoodallracing) on Oct 30, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

Susie Susie Goodall Racing arrives At the Boatshed.com HOBART film drop and interview after 120days at sea....#GGR2018 Posted by Golden Globe Race on Tuesday, October 30, 2018

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LONDON, England (CNN) -- British solo round-the-world sailor Dee Caffari happily admits that you need to be a little bit 'mad' to take on long-distance sailing.

Dee Caffari celebrates completing the solo Vendee Globe race earlier this year.

And she should know: Caffari became the first woman to sail single-handedly around the world in both directions after completing the solo round-the-world race, Vendee Globe, earlier this year.

"People say you must be mad -- and there probably is an element of truth in that," the 36 year-old told CNN.

Growing up on the south coast of England, Caffari was bitten by the sailing bug early and her passion for the sport led her to enter the Vendee Globe, considered by some to be the most punishing sporting event on the planet.

Caffari spent 99 days at sea completely alone and says preparation is the key to success in long-distance voyages at sea. That, and the desire and self-belief to make it to the finish.

"You have to have this desire to see how far you can push yourself. It's having the willingness to put yourself in that uncomfortable position -- and belief that you have the strength to get through it.

"It's a perceived risk and you go out there knowing that you have done all you can to deal with all scenarios. You don't just go out there on a whim -- we are well trained," she said.

Coping day-to-day during the journey is a whole new challenge: solo sailors must battle perilous conditions, changes to sleep patterns and, inevitably, loneliness.

Would you survive a round the world voyage? Take our personality test and find out!

Caffari says she found being separated from family and friends was the hardest aspect of sailing round-the-world the first time.

"The toughest thing about my first journey was not seeing people for six months. You can communicate very well now, perhaps too well, but it still doesn't allow you to have face-to-face contact with people."

Modern-day communications allow sailors to keep in touch via satellite phones and also keep in Internet contact. Sailors are tracked by global positioning systems (GPS) and also receive regular weather information.

"Transition" periods at the start or just after the end of voyages -- when sailors are adjusting to boat routines or getting reacquainting with daily life -- are also very challenging.

Exhaustion while getting used to different sleep patterns was particularly difficult: On board, Caffari would generally sleep in short bursts of two or three hours depending on conditions. The amount of sleep could vary greatly from day-to-day.

"The transitions are difficult. Life on board is very disciplined. Your adjustment with new sleeping patterns takes about two to three weeks. If it's changeable weather when you're out there, you don't stand a hope of getting sleep.

"It's a major shock to the body when you get back too. Suddenly you are supposed to get all your sleep at once -- and you actually have a night and a day," she said.

Food is also an issue for sailors spending a long time at sea. It needs to keep for a long time and take up minimal space, which means meals can be monotonous -- freeze-dried pasta or rice-based dishes made by adding hot water. Cravings are not unusual, according to Caffari.

"Thankfully the product has improved. I just get bored of eating the same type of food. You are aware you haven't had fresh produce in a long time and you start to crave it."

Despite the hardships, Caffari says there are numerous benefits.

"It's an amazing environment. Every time you go out you are going to see something different -- but you can't always prepare for how hostile the environment may be.

"I'm not a gadget person, so I quite enjoy the basics of life. I really value my time now. And in a team scenario it can be particularly rewarding, as the ability to not only push one's own limits but also to push other people's limits is important," she said.

The intrepid Caffari is ready to push her limits once again -- this time sailing around Britain and Ireland.

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