00:00

If you're old enough to remember when phones had cords and the only thing that went viral was a cold, then you're in the right place. Welcome to the Big Six-O with Kaylee Harris and Guy Rawlison. Because who better to discuss life's second act than two people who still think mature is a type of cheese.

00:35

Welcome back.  If you missed the first episode, no, no, you didn't. I know you heard it.  We're picking up where Lisa has survived the most incredible  incident at sea.  She's moated up to South Africa. She's lost  the world record. That's not going to happen, but she's  safe and she's alive, obviously, because she's here with us. So,  well, let's pick it up from there. You go to South Africa, the boat's in tatters. You manage to rig up a little sail and get yourself there. What happens when you get there?

01:05

I  yeah, it was this weird one because about 50 miles from reaching land, I got buzzed by one of the Navy helicopters.  And it was like my first signs of humans outside of the people on that ship, because I hadn't seen another boat or ship apart from the one that aided me in the entire time.  And so that was like, oh, my God, there's land like potentially like right there.  And then I saw land and it was.

01:30

like a double, I don't know, it was like a double edged sword because I was so glad that I'd survived, but I also had lost like so much. And that 10 days heading into land, hadn't wasted it. I'd been thinking of, okay, what do I do now? You know, I've obviously got to sort the damage out to the boat. And I'd been working with my insurance company, talking with mum and my family and like, you know, trying to find our way through it. And we had no money left. I was already over budget by about hundred thousand, cause I never raised a hundred percent of the budget.

02:00

So like, should I say I was in budget, but I hadn't raised enough money. So I was in debt of a hundred thousand. And then I also, you know, knew that it was going to probably cost another hundred grand or so to fix the boat up with this level of damage. And I arrived and I ended up getting supported in because my engine wasn't working very well at that point.

02:21

and I could put it into gear, but I had to do it manually off the engine itself. And I had to do the speed controls at the helm station at the other end of the boat. So it was like running back and forth. So you couldn't like kind of dock the boat solo. So the local volunteer kind of Marine rescue guys came out to help me and they met me and also one of the sailing YouTube families, Delos SV Delos, they're a really famous YouTube family. And they came out. And so I had

02:47

people like suddenly all around me and I had these guys on board helping me like dock the boat and they rafted up to me and one of the poor dudes was inside the boat being the throttle control for me and I'd give him like forward neutral reverse like signals  and I came into the dock and I wasn't really expecting anyone to be there because nobody really knew I don't have any networking South Africa  but we have this incredible network of women in the sailing community called Women Who Sail.

03:14

And so we have Women Who Sail Australia, Women Who Sail New Zealand, Women Who Sail the Caribbean, like all these different groups and they socialise, get together really often.  And it's a really supportive family kind of environment. So they had backed the project from the beginning.  And so a big chunk of the Cape Town community of Women Who Sail came down with a bottle of champagne. They'd made...

03:34

posters saying welcome Lisa and like,  you know, it was just such a, an incredible moment. That would have been very emotional for you. Yeah, absolutely. And like I got,  I think the biggest thing I missed was just like good hugs from and conversation from strangers. Like  not that I go and really regularly hug strangers, but you know what I mean? Like hugs from people that- Yeah, human contact. Exactly. And,  and so, you know, I just  basically said, who wants the first hug?  And like hugged a whole bunch of people I'd never met before.

04:03

And then  I got whipped off to the local pub and we had a glass of beer and I had,  like I'm vegan, but they made me a special plant-based salad roll burger thing  and chips.  And then  I didn't know anyone. I had zero dollars. I had no way of paying for anything. One family hosted me for a night. And then this other lady, Deborah,  her and her partner, they hosted me for the next two months and I just moved into their house and they drove me around everywhere trying to help me with

04:32

the boat and getting going and  you know, all of this. And I'd already  kind of made a decision at that point, someone else had suggested it to me, but  I'd made a decision that I was going to try and restart the record, repair the damage to the boat and restart the record and effectively sail back to where I'd just mastered, cross that line  and then sail the rest of the way to Australia. And if I can do that,

04:58

without using my engine,  any of these things. And in my mind, I'd done my absolute best to sail that trip unassisted. But everyone tried to talk you out of it, right? So everyone's saying, no, don't do it because the weather's changing now.  Yeah, so it meant like, well, not yet. So  I had,  it took two months to repair the boat. The damage to the hull of the boat was quite significant, mostly from the ship,  not necessarily from the dismasting.

05:23

And then I had to find a secondhand mast that I could afford. And I managed to find one in a shed in Cape Town that I put in the boat that had  been sitting there in the shed for 15 years. That was a couple meters shorter than my old mast. So we recut all the sails,  you know.  It's not the sort of thing you got in marketplace. Exactly. You can't just go and pick it up. And if you buy them new, they're like 60 to 100 grand just for the mast. And I've like got this whole boat to refit with that budget.  And my incredible network of  supporters of like sponsors and stuff.

05:52

resupplied all the equipment and the gear again. And  it was a huge effort. And then I sent a press release out saying I was going again  and I was going to restart the record with one stop. And as soon as that went out, I got this insane  overwhelmingness  from the general public. And what I like to, and I don't say this in a negative way, but armchair sailors, people who aren't necessarily sailing in hard oceans  or have experience with that.

06:20

or even leave port but have an opinion on everyone else's kind of sailing voyage. And I had all these people just saying, go, like really aggressively coming at me going, we're gonna have to rescue you. You won't come home alive if you leave. And they would have thought you're ungrateful that you've been down there before and a ship had to divert to you and then all of a sudden you're gonna go again. That would be hard for, I guess, like you said, I'm chair sailors, but what about your family? What did they think about it?

06:48

Well, once I like, you know, I've included them in all the decision making like the whole way through. I think that's a really valuable part because they can understand that I'm not making rash like a rational decisions. I'm doing it based on real data, real historical weather patterns. I'm working with my meteorologists and I'm having long discussions around the different conditions I might face.  Worst case conditions for the weather so that I could try and work out whether I felt the boat was capable in getting through those conditions.

07:14

So we'd had lots and lots of conversations. So they had ultimately said, if you feel like you're comfortable to do it, then we'll back you. But you know, when this all kicked off, like people were getting a hold of my mum's personal phone number and calling her saying, if you let your daughter leave, she's not coming back alive. You're signing up for that. And like, it's just that mental side of it all. And then I left and I got severely seasick the day I left. I was spewing my guts up off the side of the boat. And then I...

07:42

got a farewell gift from Cape Town. I left at the back of the most significant storm that had hit Cape Town in 50 years in winter and I left the day after it. And so it was this slop, there was lots of objects in the water, like trees and stuff that had been washed down. So there was lots of things to deal with. And then I got this like bad dose of the flu, like worse than I think I'd ever had in my life. So I was full body fever.

08:06

like  really struggling to breathe. I already had a chest infection that I hadn't really been able to solve from just the first part of the trip because I'm breathing in so much moisture in the air all the time from the sea spray  and that had kind of built up in my lungs to a degree. And so then I'm  off, I'm feeling absolutely terrible.  And as soon as I cleared the bottom of South Africa, I'm straight into storms and the storms are traveling west to east, but

08:34

The swell that they're generating in the average storms that I was sailing through before this in the first part of the trip, we're averaging like a wave height of like 10 meters on average. And so then you might get a 12 meter wave come through in a set or something. Now that's always from the back of the wave. That's not the face of the wave. The face of the wave will be taller again, but it's from the top of the wave to the back of the wave. And that's how they kind of measure it.  So then the forecasted swell height in these storms was 15 meters.

09:03

So a five-story building as a wave effectively.  And  so I was trying to avoid the center of these storms and I was trying to just let them blow through underneath me. And I sort of in a holding pattern doing donuts just below safe South Africa for like five days, feeling absolutely miserable at a few troubleshooting issues with my new mask, my new second-hand mask  with chafing ropes and things like that, because it wasn't quite built for that boat. then  I...

09:33

couldn't get a gap to get south. And when these waves, these storms were passing, I'm not like well clear, I'm in them. I'm just not in the center of them.  And so still going through extreme conditions, knockdowns all the time, snowstorms and blizzards,  you know,  just  the brutal nature of how much more cold it was.  And it was what I signed up for. So was okay to do it and I was doing it all right. But that idea of all of these people thinking you can't,

10:02

And  you kind of start listening to that a bit.  And so eventually I had this one, like it was five days in, I wasn't getting anywhere. was feeling incredibly frustrated. was doubting the boat. I had all the past trauma from the dismarsing. Every creaking groin was like this,  a whiplash effect. And I was like, my adrenaline, my anxiety was through the roof.  And then I was like  so sick.  And I was up on the...

10:30

the left-hand side of the boat and the port, which was the low side at the time.  And  I was trying to untangle a rope and out of nowhere, this wave broke on the boat. And it was like a 15-meter wave, like just smashed us.  And the whole boat was just thrown and engulfed in white water.  And I was on the low side. So I'm the closest part of the boat to the ocean. And it ripped me off the deck of the boat so violently fast.

10:57

And  as it was dragging me down past the rigging wire, I somehow hooked an elbow around a piece of rigging as it ripped me out to sea. And I'm still got my safety tether on and things like that, but like, you know, the force of these waves, that tether's not gonna hold. And I held my  wrists with my arm as my shoulder was like almost dislocated as the wave rent through.

11:22

and I'm horizontal, the boat's on its side, the mast is in the water, the keel is out of the water, because we're laid over so hard, and I'm underwater just holding my breath, and this wave's just gone through all your clothing, all your gears, like that icy feeling, and it's like two degrees or zero degrees, like sea temperature. And then as it passed, somehow the boat kind of scooped me back up onto the deck of the boat, because I was in the ocean, and it scooped me up into the deck of the boat, and I sort of flopped on the deck, and I...

11:51

crawled back to the cockpit and  I remember just breaking  so intensely and just thinking, they're right.  I can't do it. I'm not strong enough. There's only so much a person can give in a situation like this before you hit your wall that tells you you can't.  And so I remember like just  uncontrollably  sobbing  so hard in the cockpit. And then I  made a decision

12:18

I'll go back because I promised myself because we'd only done a half day sailing test with the rigging and everything. And I promised myself that if anything felt wrong, if it didn't feel right, I'll go back to Cape Town because at least I tried. I'd given it a shot. And if it's beyond me, then it's beyond me. Right. And so I went inside the boat and I called my mum up and I, you know, like every great adventure does phone mum. Right. And I called her up and I just said, I'm quitting. I'm going back. I can't do it. And

12:46

We would probably have to sell the house. would, you know,  like there's all these other factors involved at the same time. And she has always been an incredible support. And she was instantly like, right, if you really feel it's like more dangerous this time around, go back, we'll figure it out. We'll find a way. But I want you to imagine that you've never dismasted your 72 days into your world record. You're in the middle of the ocean. Australia is a four week sail away.

13:13

and you're experiencing these conditions, you're feeling like this, you've got this public pressure,  you know, would these conditions and the problems with the boat have been enough to make you quit in that situation? And I couldn't do anything that night because I was in the centre of this big storm. And so I just  kind of basically slept on it or didn't sleep on it, but, you know, napped on it.  And as I was going through that, I remember thinking, well, no, when I when I took the emotion out of it and the self-doubt out of it and the fear out of it,

13:43

And I logically looked at  what the conditions were like, what the boat was capable of.  you know, the little problems I was having, weren't that big. They were manageable problems. And you're expecting problems on a project like this is the nature of the record.  You know,  I decided that I could keep going. And so I then  knew I couldn't keep waiting for a gap for the storm. So I had to go through the center of the storm.  And so I'd sail for a day or so. then the between the storms and then the

14:11

swell would get so dangerous that I couldn't keep sailing. So I'd go into a position called hove two and then I'd sail for the next, you know, six to eight hours, whatever I'd get. And  so I carried that for about 10 days until I crossed over my track where I dismasted originally. And that was the turning point for me. That meant I could turn the boat and start traveling with the wind and with the storms and it takes the impact out of it all.  You're not going against those conditions.

14:38

And so  as soon as I turned that corner, it was like, you know, the halo moment of the skies opening up and the sunbeams coming down. And it was like this magic moment  and my mental health improved and I felt stronger and I'd gotten over the cold, like the flu by that point. And, you know, and I really felt like I was capable of doing this now because I'm at this point and it's just four weeks to reach Australia.  So, yeah, and I spent the next four weeks and there's still a heap of stuff that happened in that period of time, obviously, as with any other

15:08

parts of the project, but yeah, I spent that four weeks sailing back to Australia and ultimately became the first woman to finish the record with one stop. Oh gosh. Mum's always got the right thing to say. Mum's the word.  And other than raising awareness, I'm gathering you're also collecting data and doing all that sort of thing as far as... I tried to get that off the ground on the first project, but I wasn't able to find the right scientific partners for that one, but I actually...

15:35

knew like it was this weird thing I finished the record and the world celebrated it and I felt like I'd failed  and I felt like I hadn't delivered on what I was capable on or hadn't shown that to the world and I hadn't raised enough awareness of the climate action and so I knew I was going to go and do the project again I didn't know when and I knew it was going to take me a significant amount of time to rebuild my trust in the boat and  myself and all of that and  so I went and did the Australia record

16:02

in between, set another couple of records there. And then in the middle of COVID, I decided now's a great time, let's go back to Antarctica.  And I went back and I  refitted the boat. And on the second trip, I was able to retrofit the bow into a laboratory at sea. And I was able to do a whole heap of science research and contribute to  our community of scientists in such a way. Yeah, it was incredible.  So if you'd like more information, you've got a book called Facing Fear. Yes.

16:30

bits that we haven't got time for  in the podcast will be in the book. Absolutely. But more importantly, tell us about you offered another adventure. Oh my goodness.  Another record. What?  Yeah. I mean, it started as this personal journey with a side of environment and the environment's become such a big powerful driver for me, like so much more.  And the more I learn, the more I want to  create change. And so now I actually fully craft projects just around.

16:57

impact and community impact and sustainability impact.  And so I'm actually planning to go London to London, nonstop solo and unassisted around the Arctic Circle. Oh my goodness. It's never been done. why not?  Why not? Wow. And when is that coming up?

17:16

So I'm just in the sponsorship seeking phase at the moment. So if any listeners are out there got a cool contact, please, please reach out.  And  I'm hoping to, I have to build a boat for that project too, because it's a whole different set of problems you've got to solve.  And so I'm looking to build a boat out of basalt fiber and bio resin and use the project as a way of advancing the technology in the marine industry.

17:39

towards a circular economy solution and carbon neutral solutions.  And then I plan on leaving 2027 for the record. So  yeah, and then obviously doing the same microplastics research, ocean health data in the Arctic  and those collaborations. And I'm also expanding the project out across the school curriculum,  creating a  school impact project.  yeah, effectively no one's ever sailed solo around the Arctic circle before in history,  like nonstop.

18:07

and it's only possible because of climate change, sadly. So from an education community awareness impact project,  it's probably the loudest project I think I could come up with. I've got a final question for you. Where is climate action now? Where's the boat? Yeah, so she's currently docked up at the Australian National Maritime Museum. They've been incredible in their Here in Sydney? Here in Sydney.  So you can go down, she's on the public access dock on the  heritage pontoon there. So you can go and have a look around.

18:34

And then also my stump that was left from my dismasting is in the display cases inside in the museum  with some information on the microplastics research and stuff as well. So please go and check that out if you go and see the boat. give her a little pat and say hello to her for me. Cause I don't get down there nearly often enough. You and I are both off there. Yes, definitely. Lisa Blair,  I don't know what to say. I'm just so  in awe of you and what you've achieved and not just doing it.

19:03

like for yourself, there's that aspect as well, but raising awareness on for climate action as well and for what you've seen it. You've been out there and you've seen it. I love your message about  every little step that we take, little things that we can be doing. Every action matters.  Absolutely. Thank you so much for telling the story. so much. What's your website again? The website's lisablairsalestheworld.com. Sails the World. There it All the social is that as well. So you can follow along on most channels and yeah, get involved in it.

19:31

Thank you so much. Thank you, Liz. Thanks so much.  The views and opinions expressed on the Big Six are personal and reflect those of the hosts and guests.  They do not represent the views or positions of any affiliated organizations  or companies.  This podcast is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Please consult with a qualified professional for guidance on any personal matters.  And before we go.

19:59

So let's give credit where credit is due.  Kaylee Harris and I came up with all the genius content for this week's episode.  Our producer,  Nick Abood,  well he keeps the lights on and makes sure we don't accidentally upload a cat video instead of a podcast.  So thanks for keeping us on track, Nick.  Nick?  Nick?