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Isle Of Wight s Natasha Is First Female Quadriplegic Skipper To Finish Atlantic Challenge
By Iona Stewart-Richardson
Natasha Lambert
An Isle of Wight sailor, who uses her breath to sail her boat, has completed her challenge to cross the Atlantic this morning (Friday).
Natasha Lambert is the first and youngest female quadriplegic skipper to cross the Atlantic using the only boat to be adapted to use the sip puff technology developed for this purpose.
She crossed the finish line at 10:39 hrs after 18 days, 21 hours and 39 min sailing, and covering 2808 Nm.
Yachting Monthly 0shares
Disabled sailor Natasha Lambert has become the first person to sail across the Atlantic using just sip and puff technology to control her boat.
Natasha Lambert crossed the Atlantic on her Nautitech Open 46, Blown Away - the largest vessel ever converted to use sip and puff technology. Credit: Natasha Lambert
Natasha Lambert, 23, has become the first person to sail across the Atlantic using just sip and puff technology to control her boat.
The skipper, who has quadriplegic athetoid cerebral palsy which affects her limbs and speech, left from Gran Canaria with her crew as part of the 2020 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) fleet.
Helmed by Natasha Lambert and her crew on Blown Away have now crossed from the Canaries to St Lucia, a 2700nm journey (as the crow flies). Natasha, an award-winning sailor renowned for challenging her own ability has now added conquering the Atlantic Ocean to her resume.
Living with Quadriplegic Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, Natasha has difficulty using her arms and legs, making sailing a little more challenging, but this award-winning young sailor does not let that stop her! Utilising her Sip-Puff system, designed and installed to her specially adapted boat (Blown Away) by her dad Gary, Natasha is able to sail using her breathe. Supported by her family and crew, Natasha has safely completed the 2020 ARC Rally starting on Sunday the 22nd of November at approximately 13:00hrs from their start line off of Gran Canaria. That means, the crew of Blown Away were able to cross the Atlantic Ocean in just over 18 days.
Last-minute Christmas gift ideas for sailors 0shares
Still looking for a thoughtful Christmas gift for the discerning sailor in your life? Don t despair! Here are a few ideas.
Yachting Monthly team.
From bobble hats for a worthy cause to sailing gloves, baselayers, oilskins, marine torches to calendars, deck shoes, books and personalised logbooks, we hope our guide will have something to suit everyone.
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has launched a range of festive gifts and treats, and every purchase will help to support young people in recovery from cancer.
These include a unique Trust tree bauble, a big Trust bobble hat and a new grey zip hoodie, as modelled by the Trust’s founder and patron, Dame Ellen MacArthur herself.