Quadriplegic sailor announces new start for GB circumnavigation

After bad weather forced her to postpone the start of her round Britain attempt, quadriplegic sailor Hilary Lister has announced the she will leave Dover at 1400hrs on Monday 16th June to start the trip.

Commenting that “When you live in a wheelchair 24 hours a day, being in a sail boat is like flying”, Hilary plans to sail her Artemis 20 using a ‘sip and puff’ system around the coast in short day sails. Each day the team will record her finishing latitude and longitude from her GPS, so they can tow Hilary back to exactly the same point the next sailing day. Hilary is anticipating the sail will take 3-4 months, and will take in the Caledonian Canal.

Each night Hilary will be towed into a port, giving the public a chance to meet her and the crew, pictured above.


Hilary’s Boat is an Artemis 20.

The first week will see the team visit Eastbourne, Brighton and Chichester, with further stops planned in Lymington, Portland, Brixham or Dartmouth, Salcombe, Mevagavissey, Newlyn, Padstow, Bude before Hilary makes it to Wales. You can download a copy of her expected itinerary here .

Keep up with the trip on Hilary Lister’s website .