Lisa Clayton

[Grehan]

Just finished her book.
First single-handed round-the-world woman.
1995 - Big Achievement. Yet another amazing UK sailing gal.

But for Pete's sake, I just don't understand how come I've never heard of her (before reading the book) . . . Was I asleep at the time? She's never spoken of? Has she packed it all in? Or . . ?

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[longjohnsilver]

I had the good fortune to attend one of her talks after her round the world trip, very enjoyable and good fun to talk to after the event. Don't know if she still sails, but certainly had a lot of publicity at the time. Her voyage finished in Dartmouth, but are you sure she was first female single handed round the world, think she might have been the first non stop.

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[Skyva_2]

Good book, but Naomi James (Rob James' wife) and Kay Cottee were before her.

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[snowleopard]

there was a fair amount of publicity at the time, particularly as there was a debate over whether getting some supplies en route compromised the 'non-stop' record. but i read her account several years ago so has she published another book?

i particularly enjoyed her account of hanging upside down in the straps of her nav seat, sending sat c messages to base while the boat was repeatedly rolled through 360 deg.



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[Evadne]

I remember it now, although I'd forgotten until you reminded me. We were on holiday in Dartmouth and were leaving as she arrived. It was a lovely day and I must have some nice piccies somewhere. Wasn't there some adverse publicity later when someone tried to say she had cheated? It took her some time to gather the "proof".

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[warrior40]

There was a lot of talk at the time that her circumnavigation and some of her accounts of being rolled were not entirely genuine!!
I notice that the boat is laid up on the Quay at Totnes looking a bit sorry for herself.

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[rex_seadog]

Lisa Clayton married Lord Cobham (of Hagley Hall). The former Lady Cobham married former cabinet minister David Mellor (of toe sucking fame - no, not Fergie).

Enough of the tittle-tattle. Lisa's 38' steel yacht was called the Spirit of Birmingham. It was bought as a rusting hulk and was extensively refitted with the help of Birmingham University. I was fortunate enough to go on board at the 1994 Birmingham boat show prior to her voyage - everything was extremely functional, lots of bare plywood etc. I had the impression talking to her that her sailing experience, especially solo, was fairly limited and I think this was confirmed in her book. (Some time since I read the book). However, a website search talks about 35000 miles solo sailing experience.
I must admit that I have great admiration for these solo circumnavigators - Tania Aebi, Shane Acton etc. - especially those that do it without massive commercial sponsorship in small boats. I found our beat from Torbay to Dartmouth in a F6 and wind against Spring tide last Saturday pm quite exhilerating and am still discovering new bruises!! But imagine repeating the experience and much worse numerous times over a period of 9 months.

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[burgundyben]

I'm always harping on about this, but the best saily book I've read is Robin Knox J's Around Alone, highly reccomend it.

<hr width=100% size=1>Wanted - Austin Healey 110/6 or 3000 to rebuild, LHD considered.

 

[sailbadthesinner]

I think it is mainly to do with fact that Lisa is a midlander and just got a boat and got on and did it.
She was not part of the main sailing scene just wanted to go to sea.i think also she was a middle aged middlelooking middle england woman and did not have the pixy charms ofl i'l ellen. She is well known in Brum tho'


<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>I can't walk on water, but I do run on Guinness</font color=red>

 

[Chris_Stannard]

I remember the controversy at the time about whether or not Lisa Clayton did achieve what she said she did. I seem to recall that there were discrepancies in her log and so on, but I am not sure now what they were. One thing does stick in my mind is that she made a video, shown on TV, in which she claimed to be in the middle of a terrible storm. At the same time the video showed a patch of sunlight swinging lazily backwards and forward across the cabin, as it would from my experience if you were in a gentle long rolling swell. The claim and the visual evidence did not add up and I remain amongst those who have to be convinced.

<hr width=100% size=1>Chris Stannard

 

[Jeremy_W]

I think Lisa Clayton had lost the goodwill of the specialist press by making the claim repeatedly that hers would be the first female non-stop solo RTW. This record had already been won.

During and after the trip the charge was made that she had stepped ashore in South Africa and then "done a Crowhurst", pottering around in the South Atlantic before a triumphant return. The charges couldn't be proved or disproved (because the yacht didn't carry a tracking beacon) so the World Speed Sailing Record Council recognised her as: the first female non-stop solo RTW STARTING AND FINISHING IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE". She isn't in any of the main record books.

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[Seven Spades]

I thought I would just mention that someone has posted the BBC film to youtube

During the film they repeatedly claim that she was the first woman to circumnavigate the globe because she crossed the equator. Was this ever a rule as far as I can see the record still sits with Kay Cottee so if it was ever a rule it is not now.

 

[mjcoon]

I thought I would just mention that someone has posted the BBC film to youtube

During the film they repeatedly claim that she was the first woman to circumnavigate the globe because she crossed the equator. Was this ever a rule as far as I can see the record still sits with Kay Cottee so if it was ever a rule it is not now.

Surely you have to cross the date line too? Or was that taken as a given?

 

[Poecheng]

Just watching it.
The beginning and at 13:55 shows following seas/waves the size of which are rarely captured on camera and she/the boat are taking it very relaxedly.
It also stated she had to mend the generator with a pearl necklace, which seems exceptionally sporting of her

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Slight aside.
More recent . Laura Dekker . What a girl ! If ever there was a girl at one with the sea.

I keep meaning to get her movie *Maidentrip".

Anyone seen it ?

 

[mattonthesea]

It also stated she had to mend the generator with a pearl necklace, which seems exceptionally sporting of her

IIRC they were plastic and she only did it to test her theory that it was the bearings that had failed. I think it lasted a few hours!

 

[Sandy]

Was the trip recognised as the first woman to sail round the world single handed? The film did not say if it was or not.

 

[Rappey]

Was she not the first UK woman to sail non stop around the world ?
As she crossed the equator she changed to another compass . Whats that about ?

 

[fredrussell]

Was she not the first UK woman to sail non stop around the world ?
As she crossed the equator she changed to another compass . Whats that about ?

A compass made for northern hemisphere will be prone to (small) error in the Southern Hemisphere due to ‘dip’, though it’s only likely to be a problem as you get close to the ‘wrong’ pole.