Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

Lisa Blair becomes first woman to circumnavigate Antarctica solo

by Luke Reilly on 24 Sep 2017
B&G navigation equipment aids Lisa in her remarkable journey Luke Reilly
The World Sailing Speed Record Council has officially ratified Lisa Blair’s circumnavigation of Antarctica, a 183 day long journey. Lisa’s solo and unassisted circumnavigation was not short of challenges, with seven metre seas and 40 knot winds leading to the dismasting of her 50ft yacht, Climate Action Now, just 72 days in.

Lisa avoided injury, but was forced to detour to Cape Town to assess damage and conduct repairs, before returning to her point of dismasting to continue the circumnavigation. In planning for a journey of this magnitude, Lisa considered necessary redundancies that needed to be built into her yacht, opting for two separate B&G H5000 autopilots and Zeus² navigation displays for safety.

Lisa said, “The interface of the B&G Zeus displays made it easy for me to keep track of where I was the whole way around Antarctica. I had one of these displays mounted in my cabin, so as I could check the winds, heading, and alter my autopilot course whilst lying in bed.”



A H5000 barometric pressure sensor was also networked into the B&G system.

“I’d monitor the barometric pressure on the Zeus displays. It was a great indicator as to when a storm was coming, but also useful when I was in one of the really big storms to know when it had actually passed me and I was coming out the back end of the system,” she said.

On approach to Cape Town Lisa was in a pan situation. Whilst heading north through busy shipping lanes, her safety depended on the ability to identify and communicate with targets. “Given that I had the B&G 4G radar on board and AIS, I was able to sleep well knowing the electronics would pick up any vessels or icebergs that would be in my area. This meant I was as rested as could be for emergencies like my dismasting.”

Lisa won’t be on dry land for long, with plans to begin preparation for the Sydney to Hobart and another long term voyage next year.

For more information on B&G products, please visit bandg.com/au.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350Vetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTERB&G Zeus SR AUS

Related Articles

29th Superyacht Cup Palma overall
Rose produces historic conclusion to a spectacular event History was made at the Superyacht Cup Palma today when the 24m Wally yacht Rose became the first ever three-time winner of the iconic event, remarkably completing the achievement over three successive years on the Bay of Palma.
Posted on 28 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 overall
Team Nika's golden wheels get shinier While the penultimate day of racing at the 44Cup Marstand was cancelled due to excess wind, today conditions off the paradise Swedish island for the final three races were still boisterous from the lumpy residual sea state after Friday's gale.
Posted on 28 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Yupi extends its lead, To Nessa climbs on to podium: all eyes on the grand finale in Torbole A busy day full of tactical challenges wrapped up in Torbole Saturday, where the first-ever J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship continues at full speed.
Posted on 28 Jun
Switch Class Captivates Foiling Week 2025
Dickinson and Schultheis Edge Out Narrow Victories The Switch Class brought the fireworks to Foiling Week 2025 — and it came down to the wire. After four days of sun, speed, and suspense on Lake Garda, the newest class on the foiling scene delivered a debut to remember.
Posted on 28 Jun
Vaikobi Launches V-DRY-X
The New Standard in Grand Prix Sailing Dry Gear Vaikobi, a global leader in high-performance ocean sports apparel, is proud to unveil V-DRY-X: a breakthrough range of sailing dry gear engineered for Grand Prix racing and coastal yachting.
Posted on 27 Jun
Rolex Fastnet Race at 100 – the making of a giant
At present 469 yachts have entered this special edition - a far cry from its humble origins in 1925 One month remains until the 26 July start of the Rolex Fastnet Race, this year celebrating both its centenary as well as that of the club it spawned: the Royal Ocean Racing Club.
Posted on 27 Jun
America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. New Zealand website, Newsroom has obtained the confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company.
Posted on 27 Jun
Crew dynamics will be decisive in Course des Caps
Just two days to go before the start of the first race of the eagerly-awaited 2025 IMOCA season With just two days to go before the start of the first race of the eagerly-awaited 2025 IMOCA season, all eyes are on Boulogne-Sur-Mer as 11 crews prepare to race around the British Isles in the Course des Caps-Boulogne sur Mer-Banque Populaire du Nord.
Posted on 27 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 2
Linnea Aurora turns the tables as it gets tight at the top A bigger and better breeze welcomed the racing fleet on the second day of the Superyacht Cup Palma 2025, resulting in full-tilt sailing around the 23nm five-leg racecourse.
Posted on 27 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 8
Mourniac & Retornaz take the lead in the Nacra 17 class A dream day ahead of the second weekend at the Kieler Woche regatta off Schilksee: Moderate to fresh westerly winds with strong gusts, alternating sun and clouds, provided ideal sailing conditions for all participants on Friday.
Posted on 27 Jun