Record-breaking solo-sailor Lisa Blair to join Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ Antarctic Peninsula 2026
World-record-breaking solo sailor and environmental advocate Lisa Blair will join the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s next Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ as a mentor when the team sails to the Antarctic Peninsula in 2026 aboard the historic tall ship Bark EUROPA.
Scott and Shackleton’s ships played an integral part in the heroic era of Antarctic exploration. They supported important scientific work, and were central to some of the most extraordinary tales of survival. Lisa Blair brings her own story of endurance, survival and scientific discovery to the expedition.
From surviving a dramatic dismasting at sea that almost cost her life, to gathering over 180 Antarctic water samples that revealed every sample to be polluted with microplastics, Lisa has pushed the limits of human endurance and highlighted the impact of human activity on one of the world’s most fragile environments.
The holder of eight world records, including being the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around Antarctica, Lisa will share her powerful story of resilience, exploration, and science-at-sea with the next generation of explorers to challenge and motivate the team to step out of their comfort zone and begin to develop their own ‘Explorer Mindset’.
During her record-breaking Antarctic circumnavigation in 2022, Lisa collaborated with a number of scientific organisations to gather data to measure ocean health, living her commitment to a sustainable future, and inspiring others to take action, all while braving the perils of the world’s most treacherous ocean for an astounding 92 days in her yacht named Climate Action Now.
This expedition will inspire the next generation to continue the legacy of exploration and scientific discovery begun by the heroic era explorers and continued by Lisa. The team will take an active role learning to sail a historic tall ship, and take part in Bark EUROPA’s collaboration with the Polar Citizen Science Collective to collect data as they cross the Drake Passage.
The expedition will take place from 10 January to 10 February 2026, and is open to New Zealand citizens and permanent residents aged 18 to 30.
Applications close 12 September 2025. For more information and to apply, visit inspiringexplorers.co.nz.
No previous sailing experience is necessary, although participants must meet fitness requirements. The professional crew will teach the team how to sail and operate the ship, and applicants are encouraged to bring creative ideas for sharing the experience through writing, art, music, video, or other mediums as part of a post-expedition outreach programme.
To learn more about Lisa Blair and her extraordinary voyages, visit lisablairsailstheworld.com
