pushingthelimits.com

Hilary Lister, the female sailor attempting to conduct the first solo circumnavigation of the UK by a quadriplegic, has been forced to cancel the challenge after 53 days at sea. Plagued by horrendous weather, problems with her boat’s keel and water damage to her specialist control equipment, Hilary is determined to complete the challenge and has vowed to return next year.

Despite the seemingly impossible physical challenges of a quadriplegic sailing a small boat independently in the notoriously dangerous waters around the UK, it was equipment failure rather than Hilary’s health or sailing abilities that forced the decision to be made.

The integrated navigation and control system used by Hilary onboard her boat, Artemis 20, was a combination of off-the-shelf items and custom built electronics. The complicated system, which had never been developed before it was designed for Hilary, is still technically in development and was subjected to a very hostile environment.

Despite thorough testing and development, the famous british weather proved to much for the sensitive electronics. The level of difficulty operating and maintaining the boat and control systems under the conditions for such a prolonged period proved to be too much.

The weather also often stopped Hilary sailing, adding to her frustration and pushing the attempt behind schedule. When Hilary did sail though she made the passages and distances that were planned and once again proved not just her skill as a sailor but her physical endurance and resilience.

Hilary expressed her thoughts about having to cancel the adventure:

“I’m obviously extremely disappointed and incredibly frustrated that we’ve not been able to complete the sail this year; it seems that the fates have conspired against us but I am now ever more determined to go again next year. We always said that every mile we sailed would be an achievement in its own right and we have to try and take some positives from this year’s efforts. I have enjoyed the wonderful experience of night sailing and the tranquillity and sense of freedom that brings.”

Anyone in a wheelchair can appreciate having to rely on equipment and the frustration brought when it undoubtedly fails at the most inopportune moment, so we feel Hilary’s pain at not being able to complete the trip through no fault of her own. Truly setting a standard, Hilary has not simply shown the world what is possible through determination (and a good amount of guts), despite the most severe disabilities, but she also aims to help other people with disabilities have access to sailing through her charity “Hilary’s Dream Trust”.

With a year of improvements to equipment and valuable lessons learned, we’re sure Hilary will be back to the waters around the UK in the summer of 2009 to complete her dream.

HilaryLister.com