NEWS

Australian Lisa Blair couldn't break Fedor Konyukhov's record because of a broken mast

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Australian yachtswoman Lisa Blair, sailing solo around Antarctica, docked in Cape Town on April 13 before reaching her final destination, Albany in Western Australia.

On April 4, the 32-year-old yachtswoman lost her mast in 40-knot winds and seven-meter waves 895 miles south of Cape Town. The woman set up temporary sailing gear and motored to land.

Lisa Blair sailed out of Albany on January 22 on the Open 50 Climate Action Now boat. She hoped to become the first woman to circumnavigate Antarctica alone and unaided. Blair was three-quarters of the way through when her port-side battens snapped, unable to withstand the inclement weather, and her sail collapsed onto the deck, damaging her. This happened on the 72nd day of her voyage.

Lisa Blair became the second person in history to take part in the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race. Before her, only Fedor Konyukhov took part in the regatta. The Russian's attempt to sail around Antarctica alone was successful: he did it in 102 days, 35 minutes and 50 seconds, setting a world record. The Australian's goal was to break that record. She had hoped to circumnavigate Antarctica in 94 days. According to the tracker, Blair was ahead of Konyukhov when her boat lost its mast.

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