Quadriplegic sails into record books
English woman completes 850nm trans-ocean voyageQuadriplegic sailor Hilary Lister has set a new trans-ocean record by becoming the first paralysed woman to complete the 850nm sea voyage from Mumbai in India to Muscat, Oman. Her sailing partner, Omani yachtswoman Nashwa Al Kindi, also set a record of her own as the first Arab woman sailor to complete the trip.
The pair sailed into port on March 20 at the end of their voyage which started from the busy port on the western coast of India and crossed the Indian Ocean.
Back on dry land, Hilary says the hardest part was ending the trip: "I never wanted to get off!" she said.
"We had a few challenges, but for me it's all about pushing yourself to the limit," she added. "It’s meeting those challenges that gives me so much pleasure.
"We had some fun moments too. There were dolphins and whales along the way -- and I even got slapped in the face by a flying fish. And at night, the sight of phosphorescence on the water and clear starry skies is absolutely beautiful."
It was the latest in a series of challenges that Hilary has set herself. She first made it to the record books in 2005, when she sailed the English Channel, and again in 2009 when she sailed solo around Britain.
Hilary and Nashwa’s arrival in Muscat was well-timed, as the port is currently playing host to some of the elite of competitive sailing while it hosts the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series. The GAC Pindar team, skippered by Australian Seve Jarvin, is among the crews vying for a place on the leader board.
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