Lisa is sailing solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica to claim the overall speed record.

The enchantingly raw nature of the Southern Ocean has challenged sailors for generations. Filled with unrelenting storms and waves of liquid mountains, you sail through testing waters with snow and ice, named latitudes of the roaring forties, furious fifties, and the screaming sixties. It is a place where not many sailors have dared to journey, and scarcely any, challenge these waters alone. It is the ultimate endurance test for any sailor and there are few with the strength and determination to succeed on these waters. There is one such sailor who has already proven she can survive in these waters and is now, planning to return, meet Lisa Blair.

Lisa was a late bloomer and began sailing when she was 25 years old. In the 12 years since, Lisa has sailed over 80 000 nm and become one of Australia's most acclaimed sailors, earning international recognition when she became the first woman in history, the third person, to sail solo around Antarctica and was on the way to achieve the speed record of Fedor Konyukhov until she suffered a dramatic dismasting. Lisa fought for her survival and success to set this record but was no longer able to challenge the overall speed record, due to stopping for repairs. Lisa's Guinness World record stands as the First Woman to circumnavigate Antarctica Solo with one-stop.

Lisa’s incredible story is now a book, published by Australian Geographic and there is a feature-length documentary underway titled ‘Ice Maiden’. Lisa now holds three world records and is setting off this December to challenge Fedor Konyukhov's again with the goal of becoming the fastest person to sail solo around Antarctica, below 45 degrees South and break Fedors record of 102 Days. Lisa aims to utilise this opportunity to raise awareness of her Climate Action Now campaign and to complete citizen science.

Throughout all her, sailing Lisa has been passionately promoting the message of Climate Action Now and inspiring individuals to take positive actions towards our environment. Lisa has collected thousands of post-it notes with environmental actions from our community members on them and she has adorned the hull of her 50-foot yacht Climate Action Now with these messages. Her goal is to inspire individuals to take positive environmental actions and together we can create our future.

Lisa will be sailing between the latitudes of 45 South and 60 South, deep in the Southern Ocean, for 90-100 days. This is a location where very little ocean health or scientific data actually exists. There are almost no vessels transiting these dangerous waters and it is too costly to send research vessels down. Partnering with the Clean Ocean Foundation and working with many scientific organisations, Lisa is using her vessel and complete as much scientific research as she possibly can while circumnavigating Antarctica.

So far, Lisa will be taking valuable ocean health readings (Salinity, dissolved carbon dioxide, chlorophyll and bio optics), microplastic samples, meteorological data (barometric data, temperature, wind/direction, air pressure, humidity) to assist with global weather modelling, deploying drifter buoys and is currently looking at also taking a stronger depth sounder to assist with mapping the seafloor. Lisa is also committing to rolling out 6 months of free school talks in person and online where she will be sharing her adventure story with citizen science and inspire the next generation of changemakers. This decade is the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science and Lisa aims to support this through her circumnavigation but she can't do all of this alone. Lisa needs your help!

There are huge costs associated with developing a project like this, from the refit of the vessel to ensure a safe and successful voyage, to the rental of the scientific unit and associated costs Lab processing costs. Lisa is seeking businesses and individuals who are passionate about promoting Climate Action Now and seeing her voyage a success, to sponsor a degree of her voyage and together we can circumnavigate Antarctica. Find out more here.