Lisa has been warmly welcomed to Cape Town and is enjoying the hospitality before she begins work on Climate Action Now to prepare for her final leg to Australia.
Lisa's blog.
Here's the video!!
Champagne and cheers for Lisa
A week ago a seed was planted by a member of Women Who Sail Australia Facebook group who suggested a banner and champagne for Lisa's arrival. I thought what a great idea so with Lisa's mum Linda Blair's support I went for it on social media. I knew that the main group Women Who Sail with 11,000 members would have someone in Cape Town. Anyone I knew in South Africa and through Women Who Sail Australia I contacted. Watching the responses voraciously a few wonderful women came forward.
Before I knew it we had a working group conversing via Facebook Messenger. Even Andy the Station Commander (AIRBORNE SEA RESCUE) joined the conversation and later provided some fab photos.
Then Brady Troutman of SV Delos, a friend of Behan Gifford (Totem) offered to dinghy out to take pictures and film Lisa coming in. This was great as the SV Delos crew are famous for their utube videos and have 54,000 followers.
So with messages flying back forth between Lisa on sat phone to her mum who then relayed to me, we had Lisa's needs sorted for a warm and supportive arrival. Deborah and Philaine have been marvellous and continue to support Lisa while she is in Cape Town with accommodation, transport, meals etc. Deborah made the awesome banner above and Adeena delayed her holiday so she could greet Lisa and Climate Action Now.
So with my iPhone permanently in my hands for 12 hours until Lisa arrived, I was madly reading, replying and watching the messages coming through on messenger. When the first photos came - the tiny red sail on the horizon, followed by the first photos of Lisa and Climate Action Now with jury rig sailing along in perfect weather, I shed a few tears. Thank you Brady (SV Delos) As South Africa is 8 hours behind Australia, I was riveted until 2am. Such a special experience I'll never forget. So the 2 Lindas in Australia shed tears for this incredible young Australian woman.
The main fact that Lisa was determined not to be rescued after her dismasting makes her a hero. The conditions in which she was in (7m seas) to cut down the rig and repair the boat is just simply astounding. Then the drama of trying to communicate with the Hong Kong ship who detoured to offer fuel then surviving a collision with the monster kept us all on our toes. But we read about it on Lisa's blog after the event with our hearts in our mouths.
Then the magnificent jury rig she managed to put up on her own. No mean feat. Okay so she has had to stop 4 weeks before the final leg of her solo circumnavigation of Antarctica. But she is determined to finish her amazing voyage. A new mast and rig is already being organised.
I just wished I could have been there for the welcome party that I orchestrated from a far. That pink South African champagne looked divine!