Lisa Blair

{{Infobox person

| name = Lisa Blair

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|OAM}}

| image =

| nationality = Australian

| occupation = Solo sailor, author, climate activist, key note speaker

| known_for = Sailing solo around Antarctica

| website = https://lisablairsailstheworld.com/

}}

Lisa Blair OAM is an Australian solo sailor who holds multiple world sailing records. She is also an advocate for action against climate change, which she promotes through her Climate Action Now project.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-27 |title=Australian Geographic Society Gala Awards 2022: 'Adventurer of the Year' award winner, Lisa Blair |url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/society/2022/10/australian-geographic-society-gala-awards-2022-adventurer-of-the-year-lisa-blair/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Australian Geographic |language=en-US}} She has written a book, Facing Fear, about her first attempt at circumnavigating Antarctica solo on her yacht Climate Action Now.{{Cite web |title=Lisa Blair |url=https://lisablairsailstheworld.com/biography |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Lisa Blair Sails the World |language=en-AU}} Blair received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours List in January 2025 'for services to sailing'.{{Cite web |last=The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia |title=Australia Day 2025 Honours List |url=https://www.gg.gov.au/australia-day-2025-honours-list |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=Australia Day 2025 Honours List}}

Solo sailing career

Blair was 25 years old when she got a job as a hostess on a boat in the Whitsundays. She completed her first ocean passage as a crew member delivering a yacht to Hawaii in 2008. In 2011 she crewed in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as a watch leader, bowman, rigger and helmsman. Her team on the yacht Gold Coast Australia won the overall Clipper Race trophy for the 2011–12 edition of the race.{{Cite web |title=Clipper Race Crew Member Sets Sailing Record |url=https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/news/article/clipper-race-crew-member-sets-sailing-record |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=www.clipperroundtheworld.com |language=en}} Blair's solo sailing career started in 2014 when she sailed the Solo Tasman Challenge from New Zealand to Queensland, borrowing a yacht one week before the race.{{Cite web |date=10 September 2023 |title=Lisa Blair Sailing Solo Around Antarctica |url=https://www.yachtcharters.com.au/lisa-blair-guide-to-dealing-with-crisis-sailing-solo-around-antarctica/ |website=Queensland Yacht Charters}} She then spent three and a half years planning and fundraising for her first attempt at circumnavigating Antarctica. She purchased her own boat Climate Action Now in 2015, originally named Funnel-Web, which she sailed in the 2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=The Yachts - Climate Action Now |url=https://rolexsydneyhobart.com/the-yachts/2017/climate-action-now/?raceId=109&SeriesId=2 |access-date=10 September 2023 |website=Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race}} Climate Action Now is a 2003 Hick 50, 15.25m (50ft) monohull designed by Robert Hick.

= Solo circumnavigations of Antartica (2017 & 2022) =

In 2017, Blair attempted to circumnavigate Antarctica solo for the first time, with the goal of becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica and the secondary goal of breaking the current record of 102 days held by Russia. 72 days into this attempt she experienced a knockdown causing her yacht to dismast,{{Cite news |last=Lynch |first=Jacqueline |date=12 June 2017 |title=Australian sailor Lisa Blair finally heading home after Antarctica bid halted off South Africa |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-12/antarctica-bid-sailor-lisa-blair-heads-home-after-cape-town-fix/8610682 |access-date=30 August 2023}} about 1,000 nautical miles from land.{{Cite book |last1=Posey |first1=Amy |title=Wild Success |last2=Vallely |first2=Kevin |publisher=McGraw Hill |year=2019 |isbn=9781260455519 |location=US |pages=129–135 |chapter=Chapter 6 Resilience}} She built a jury rig and diverted to Cape Town where she spent two months repairing her yacht, before recommencing her voyage to circumnavigate Antarctica and became the first female solo sailor to circumnavigate Antarctica with one stop. The whole trip, including the stop in Cape Town, took 183 days 7 hours and 21 minutes.{{Cite web |last=Dawes |first=Jessica |title=Adventurer Lisa Blair sails into Guinness World Records 2021 |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2020/9/adventurer-lisa-blair-sails-into-guinness-world-records-2021-629909 |website=Guinness World Records}}

In 2022, Blair began another attempt to circumnavigate Antarctica, beating Fyodor Konyukhov's 2008 record by 10 days.{{Cite news |last1=Pauletto |first1=Kyle |last2=Bennett |first2=Mark |last3=Layton |first3=Christine |date=25 May 2022 |title=Solo sailor Lisa Blair breaks Antarctic circumnavigation record |work=ABC Great Southern |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-25/solo-sailor-lisa-blair-breaks-antarctic-circumnavigation-record/101097378 |access-date=10 September 2023}} {{As of|2022|bare=}}, she holds the record of being the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica, taking a record of 92 days, 18 hours and 21 minutes to complete.{{Cite web |title=Fastest circumnavigation of Antarctica by sailboat |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/497135-fastest-circumnavigation-of-antarctica-by-sailboat |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=Guinness World Records}}

= Solo circumnavigation of Australia record (2018) =

On 17 December 2018, in between her two Antartica records, Lisa established two new world records; she became the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around Australia, and a new speed record as the fastest mono-hulled yacht to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Australia, doing so in 58 days 2 hours and 25 minutes. She covered a total of 6,536 nautical miles, sailing anti-clockwise around Australia, including Tasmania, at an average speed of 4.69 knots.{{Cite web |title=Fastest circumnavigation of Australia by sail boat (monohull, solo) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/598288-fastest-circumnavigation-of-australia-by-sail-boat-monohull-solo#:~:text=Fastest%20circumnavigation%20of%20Australia%20by%20sail%20boat%20(monohull%2C%20solo),-Advertisements&text=According%20to%20the%20World%20Speed,by%20Lisa%20Blair%20(AUS). |access-date=10 September 2023 |website=Guinness World Record}}

= Solo Sydney to Auckland record (2024) =

On the 9th April 2024 Blair, on her boat Climate Action Now, broke two new world records; becoming the first female, and the fastest person to sail a monohull solo, non-stop and unassisted from Sydney to Auckland with a time of 8 days, 3 hours and 19 minutes (to be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC).{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Carolyn |date=10 April 2024 |title=Lisa Blair has Set a World Sailing Speed Record Sydney to Auckland Solo |url=https://www.sail-world.com/news/273424/Lisa-Blair-Sydney-to-Auckland-solo-record |access-date=13 April 2024 |website=Sail World}} {{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Lucy |date=9 April 2024 |title=Sailing: Australian Lisa Blair smashes solo speed record from Sydney to Auckland |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2024/04/sailing-australian-lisa-blair-smashes-solo-speed-record-from-sydney-to-auckland.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410205124/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2024/04/sailing-australian-lisa-blair-smashes-solo-speed-record-from-sydney-to-auckland.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 April 2024 |access-date=13 April 2024 |website=News Hub}}{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Carolyn |date=25 May 2024 |title=New sailing record course set in NZ by Aussie sailor Lisa Blair |url=https://www.sail-world.com/news/275116/New-sailing-record-course-set-in-NZ-by-Lisa-Blair |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Sail-World}} The original speed record was established on 22 January 2020, by retired Australian Veteran James Prascevic set the solo, monohull record with a time of 12d 14h 41m 15s, who was sailing to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).{{Cite web |title=Sydney to Auckland World Record |url=https://lisablairsailstheworld.com/sydney-to-auckland-record |access-date=13 April 2024}} This record was part of her The “Cross the Ditch for Climate Action Now” campaign, aimed at raising awareness of ocean pollution issues and advocating for everyone to make a change for the health of the ocean.

= Solo circumnavigation of New Zealand (2024) =

On the 24th May 2024, Blair established a new sailing record; sailing unassisted, solo and on a monohull anticlockwise around New Zealand from Auckland to Auckland, a total distance of 2,672nm. The circumnavigation, which required her course to include all rocks and islands laying within 8nm of the mainland, took Blair 16 days and 23 hours (to be ratified by WSSRC).

Climate activist

During Blair's second circumnavigation of Antarctica, her yacht Climate Action Now was equipped with several scientific devices such as an Ocean Pack Race Research Unit, which measures carbon dioxide (CO²), salinity levels, temperature and barometric pressure.{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Carolyn |date=24 May 2022 |title=Lisa Blair Sets New World Record On Solo Sail Around Antarctica |url=https://www.sail-world.com/news/249448/Lisa-Blair-sets-Antartica-Record |access-date=10 September 2023 |website=Sail World}} She also collected samples to be used to study the level of microplastics in the water, and has been working in partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) to study those samples.

Blair's project, Climate Action Now, encourages individuals to think about how they can contribute towards a better future for our planet. The hull of her yacht of the same name, Climate Action Now, is designed from post-it notes that reflect actual messages from supporters and fans about what they are doing to be more sustainable.{{Cite web |title=Climate Action Message |url=https://lisablairsailstheworld.com/climate-action-message |access-date=10 September 2023 |website=Lisa Blair Sails The World}}

Other projects

= Media =

Blair is the author of the book Facing Fear, published in 2021 by Australian Geographic, which details the story of her first attempt at sailing solo around Antarctica.{{Cite web |title=Facing Fear |url=https://lisablairsailstheworld.com/facing-fear |website=Lisa Blair Sails The World}}

Blair was a contestant on the first season of Million Dollar Island, which aired in 2023 on Channel Seven in Australia, hosted by Ant Middleton.{{Cite web |year=2023 |title=Million Dollar Island |url=https://7plus.com.au/million-dollar-island |access-date=10 September 2023 |website=Seven Plus}}

The documentary Ice Maiden (2024), directed by Nathaniel C. T. Jackson, is about her first solo sail around Antarctica.{{Citation |last1=Jackson |first1=Nathaniel C. T. |title=Ice Maiden |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9043890/ |type=Documentary |access-date=2023-11-05 |others=Jessica Watson, Dick Smith, Lisa Blair |publisher=Jackson Speed |last2=Blannin-Ferguson |first2=James}} It has been included in a number of international film festivals including the 2024 Ocean Film Festival World Tour, touring Australia and New Zealand,{{Cite web |title=Movies |url=https://oceanfilmfestivalaustralia.com.au/movies/ |access-date=13 April 2024 |website=Ocean Film Festival World Tour}} 2024 Doc Edge in New Zealand{{Cite web |title=Ice Maiden |url=https://docedge.nz/films/ice-maiden/ |website=doc edge}} and the Warsaw International Film Festival 2024 in Poland.{{Cite web |title=40 Ice Maiden |url=https://wff.pl/en/film/40-ice-maiden |url-status=live |website=Warsaw International Film Festival}}

= Key note speaking =

Lisa is a motivational speaker on topics in female empowerment, resilience and mental agility.{{Cite web |title=NAVIGATING TO SUCCESS: SAILING THE SEAS WITH RESILIENCE AND MENTAL AGILITY |url=https://www.lisablairspeaks.com/}}

Awards

2017: Spirit of Adventure Award – Australian Geographic{{Cite web |date=2018-07-07 |title=AG Spirit of Adventure Awards |url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2018/07/ag-spirit-of-adventure-awards/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Australian Geographic |language=en-US}}
2017: Seamanship Award – Ocean Cruising Club{{Cite web |title=Prizewinner |url=https://www.oceancruisingclub.org/home/prizewinner/366 |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=www.oceancruisingclub.org}}
2022: Adventurer of the Year Award – Australian Geographic
2022: Offshore Sailor of the Year – Australian Sailing{{Cite web |last=Sailing |first=Australian |title=2022 Australian Sailing Awards finalists announced |url=https://www.sailing.org.au/news/2022-australian-sailing-awards-finalists-announced/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=www.sailing.org.au |language=en}}
2025: Order of Australia Medal (OAM) 'for services to sailing'

Records

As of 2017, the first woman to sail solo, unassisted around Antarctica with one stop, with a time of 183 days, 7 hours, and 21 minutes.
As of 2018, the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Australia with a time of 58 days, 2 hours, and 25 minutes.
In 2019, Lisa and co-skipper Jackie Parry became the first double-handed female team to finish the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.{{Cite web |last=Colangelo |first=Anthony |date=2019-12-26 |title=More than a race for Melbourne to Hobart's first female duo |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/sailing/more-than-a-race-for-melbourne-to-hobart-s-first-female-duo-20191223-p53mda.html |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lisa Blair to sail double-handed in Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race - ORCV12 |url=https://www.orcv.org.au/club-blog/5097-lisa-blair-to-sail-double-handed-in-melbourne-to-hobart-yacht-race |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=www.orcv.org.au}}{{Cite web |title=2019 Melbourne to Hobart - Race 2 Results |url=http://www.orcv.org.au/results/2019-20/2019M2H/02RGrp14.htm?ty=43831 |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Ocean Racing Club of Victoria |language=en-AU}}
As of 2022, the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica with a time of 92 days, 18 hours, and 21 minutes.
As of April 2024, the first women, and fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted from Sydney to Auckland with a time of 8 days, 3 hours and 19 minutes.{{Cite web |date=9 April 2024 |title=Breaking News: Lisa Blair Sets New Speed Solo Sailing World Record From Australia To New Zealand |url=https://oceanfilmfestivalaustralia.com.au/lisa-blair-makes-new-world-record-sailing-australia-to-nz/ |access-date=13 April 2024 |website=Ocean Film Festival World Tour}}{{Cite web |date=10 April 2024 |title=Lisa Blair has set a World Sailing Speed Record Sydney to Auckland solo |url=https://cyca.com.au/lisa-blair-has-set-a-world-sailing-speed-record-sydney-to-auckland-solo/#:~:text=Australian%20record%2Dbreaking%20solo%20sailor,days%2C%203hrs%20and%2019%20minutes. |access-date=13 April 2024 |website=Cruising Yacht Club of Australia}}
In May 2024, Blair became the first person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around New Zealand; Auckland to Auckland with a time of 16 days and 23 hours.{{Cite web |date=31 May 2024 |title=Lisa Blair Sets The World Record For Solo Sailing Around New Zealand |url=https://oceanfilmfestivalaustralia.com.au/lisa-bliar-sets-world-record-circumnavigating-new-zealand/#:~:text=Lisa%20Blair%20has%20achieved%20a,her%20yacht%2C%20Climate%20Action%20Now.}}{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Carolyn |date=25 May 2024 |title=New sailing record course set in NZ by Aussie sailor Lisa Blair |url=https://www.sail-world.com/news/275116/New-sailing-record-course-set-in-NZ-by-Lisa-Blair}}