Hilary Lister completes the "Channel Challenge"
23 August 2005 - 09:46
The Channel Challenge is Hilary Lister's attempt to become the first quadriplegic to sail, single-handed, across the English Channel.
Visit Hilary Lister's website
Hilary started sailing in 2003, and was immediately hooked. In 2004 she began to dream of crossing the English Channel single-handed and, at the end of August, she proposes to do just that.
Hilary has a progressive disorder which has left her only able to move her head. She spends all the time when she is not sailing either in a wheelchair, or in bed.
Until Hilary was introduced to sailing by a neighbour, she was completely housebound. Hilary had been extremely active all her life. As a paraplegic she swam and worked out in the gym several times a week. Having lost the use of her arms she could no longer drive, or continue her work as a biochemist. Her new lifestyle as a quadriplegic seemed to be worthless.
When she says "sailing saved my life", she means it.
Westbere Sailing Opportunities first put Hilary in a Wayfarer in September, 2003. They are a remarkable group of volunteers who immediately see through the gadgets and disability and find the real person.
From the Wayfarer Hilary graduated to being a passenger on a Challenger trimaran. This provided some fantastic sailing, but the frustration of being an able to sail a boat herself was growing. In mid-2004 she began to dream of being the first quadriplegic to sail across the Channel. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Pindar, UKSA and the support and practical help of many others, this dream is about to come true.
Update: 22 August 2005
At about 8:00am Hilary set off from Dover on her journey across the Channel. It is expected that the journey to Calais should take between five and six hours to complete.
Update: 22 August 2005
Hilary completed the Channel Challenge, crossing the finish line in Calais at 14:40 today - achieving her goal to become the first quadriplegic to sail, single-handed, across the English Channel.
