The female crew of the 28-foot Dragonfly trimaran sailed the Mumbai-Maskat route, setting two new transoceanic records. Hilary Lister crossed the route while totally paralyzed, and Nashwa Al Kindi became the first Arabian to do so.
Lister, for whom the new record was the second of her career, commented:
For her part, Al Kindi is confident that her achievement will inspire Arab women and promote nautical sports.
The women sailed the 850-odd miles in nine days at an average speed of around 5-6 knots. For the most part, the ship sailed against the wind, however, at no more than 10-15 knots. The crew also had to make a 36-hour stopover to replenish fuel supplies and repair sail breakdowns.
Dragonfly was specially redesigned for Hilary Lister, incorporating a special system that responds to air pressure. It allowed the paralyzed woman to steer the boat on course.
