Hilary Lister
Encyclopedia
Hilary Lister is a record-breaking quadriplegic sailor
from Kent
, England
. She suffers from the progressive condition reflex sympathetic dystrophy and controls her ship by using sip-and-puff
technology for steering and sails.
Lister was able-bodied until the age of 15. She studied biochemistry
at Jesus College, Oxford
between 1991 and 1995, having lost the use of her legs by then. She started a PhD at the University of Kent
in 1996 but her condition deteriorated. She lost the use of her arms in 1999 and was unable to finish her doctorate (but has since been awarded an honorary doctorate by the university). She was introduced to sailing in 2003, which she says gave her life "new meaning and purpose".
On 23 August 2005, Lister was the first quadriplegic to sail solo across the English Channel
(in 6 hours and 13 minutes). On 24 July 2007, she became the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around the Isle of Wight
(in 11 hours 4 minutes). She won the Sunday Times Helen Rollason
Award for Inspiration in 2005. She set off to sail solo around Britain on 16 June 2008. Bad weather and technical problems led to the attempt being suspended on 13 August 2008.
On 21st May 2009, Hilary Lister restarted her sail from Plymouth
. By 14th August she had reached Bridlington
on England’s east coast. She reached the end of her journey, Dover in Kent, on the evening of 31st August 2009.
On 8th January 2010, at the Tullett Prebon
London International Boat Show, Lister announced her intention to compete in the 2011 Fastnet Race
in a Class 40 boat. In April 2010 Hilary will sail around the Kingdom of Bahrain in support of Bahrain Mobility International.
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
from Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She suffers from the progressive condition reflex sympathetic dystrophy and controls her ship by using sip-and-puff
Sip-and-puff
Sip-and-Puff or Sip 'n' Puff ' technology is a method used to send signals to a device using air pressure by "sipping" or "puffing" on a straw, tube or "wand." It is primarily used by people who do not have the use of their hands...
technology for steering and sails.
Lister was able-bodied until the age of 15. She studied biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
between 1991 and 1995, having lost the use of her legs by then. She started a PhD at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
in 1996 but her condition deteriorated. She lost the use of her arms in 1999 and was unable to finish her doctorate (but has since been awarded an honorary doctorate by the university). She was introduced to sailing in 2003, which she says gave her life "new meaning and purpose".
On 23 August 2005, Lister was the first quadriplegic to sail solo across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
(in 6 hours and 13 minutes). On 24 July 2007, she became the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
(in 11 hours 4 minutes). She won the Sunday Times Helen Rollason
Helen Rollason
Helen Frances Rollason MBE was a British sports journalist and television presenter.-Early life:Born 11 March 1956, Helen Rollason was an adopted child. She was born in London, grew up in Bath and studied at Chelsea School of Physical Education, Eastbourne and Dalhousie University, in Canada...
Award for Inspiration in 2005. She set off to sail solo around Britain on 16 June 2008. Bad weather and technical problems led to the attempt being suspended on 13 August 2008.
On 21st May 2009, Hilary Lister restarted her sail from Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. By 14th August she had reached Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
on England’s east coast. She reached the end of her journey, Dover in Kent, on the evening of 31st August 2009.
On 8th January 2010, at the Tullett Prebon
Tullett Prebon
Tullett Prebon plc is one of the largest inter-dealer money brokers in the world. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.- History :...
London International Boat Show, Lister announced her intention to compete in the 2011 Fastnet Race
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
in a Class 40 boat. In April 2010 Hilary will sail around the Kingdom of Bahrain in support of Bahrain Mobility International.
Awards
- Winner of the SJA Bill McGowan Award, 2009
- Winner of the Vitalise "Woman of Achievement" Award, 2009
- Winner of Breast cancer Breakthrough Aspirational non-celebrity, 2009
- Winner of the CosmopolitanCosmopolitan (magazine)Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
Superhero Award — Cosmopolitan Fun & Fearless Women - Winner of the Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration — Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year 2007
- Winner of The Royal Cruising Club's Seamanship Award, 2005
- Winner of A Woman of the Year 2005–2006 — Women of the Year Charity
- Winner of Woman of the Year 2006 — New Woman Magazine
Other recognition
- Awarded an honorary PhD by the University of Kent at Canterbury 2007
- Made a UK Sailing Academy Ambassador 2006
- Hilary is patron of Mariners of Bule and the Active Ashford Bursary.
- Kent County CouncilKent County CouncilKent County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Kent in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils. The county council has 84 elected councillors...
Invicta Award, April 2010
External links
- Hilary Lister website
- BBC news report of cross-channel sail
- The Guardian interview
- Article in Oxford TodayOxford TodayOxford Today: The University Magazine is a magazine for the alumni of Oxford University.According to its website, the magazine is distributed free to around 150,000 alumni around the world and also by subscription. It appears three times a year, with the issues coinciding with the three Oxford...
- (page 7) article by Lister in the Jesus College alumni newsletter
- CNN report
- Sunday Times award / profile
- University of Kent
- University of Kent
- International Association for Disabled Sailing's report on Lister's Isle of Wight sail