Sailing into the Future

Did you know that some 40 million fibreglass – “plastic” – boats are now reaching the end of their lives and will be abandoned or deliberately sunk, causing a tidal wave of toxic microplastics in the world’s waterways?

Award-winning Australian solo sailor and climate advocate Lisa Blair certainly does. She says it is the “untold story of marine impacts for the boating industry” and after many years of work behind the scenes, she has embarked on a unique joint research partnership to combat the problem. Blair, the Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC, UNSW Sydney and Steber International have just announced the launch of a solution-focused research project: Sustainable Composites for Next Gen Boat Hulls.

“The reality is that high-volume research into the long-term impacts of fibreglass just does not exist yet; we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg,” says Blair. “However, the lack of historical data doesn’t change the fact that a solution needs to be found, and ‘we’ as an industry need to transition to a circular economy.”

Blair is passionate about creating global awareness of the growing problem of pollution caused by glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) boats. She says that while there is some movement towards recycling fibreglass vessels in Europe, getting boats to a recycling depot is a “logistical nightmare” and prohibitively expensive when the project is not undertaken at scale.

“Ideally, we need a levy when buying a new boat that covers the cost of eventual recycling, but we are some years away from that sort of system being in place – and it doesn’t solve the problem of recycling older boats. Right now, taxpayers are funding government-run initiatives such as Queensland’s War on Wrecks that clears up abandoned boats, which then end up in landfills.”

Blair says the solution needs to be more forward-thinking. “Our long-term goal is to incentivise boat-builders to construct vessels from a material that is more sustainable, that doesn’t do so much damage to the environment if the boat is dumped and is far easier for boat-owners to recycle. We aim to inspire, change and to work with existing and new marine partners so that collectively we can prevent the entire cycle of fibreglass pollution.”

Having sailed solo around Antarctica twice, among many other astonishing achievements – in 2022, she became the fastest person and first woman in history to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted at below 45 degrees South – Blair is now planning a solo circumnavigation of the Arctic. However, this voyage is “not just about breaking another record”.

“The Arctic Impact Project is a multi-layered mission, driving innovation through our sustainable composite research, empowering communities through a global school programme and Climate Action Now events, and advancing science by documenting the health of our remote oceans.” By building her vessel from basalt fibre and advanced bio-resins, the yachtie-turned-conservationist is showing that adventure can, and must, be a vehicle for change.

“Basalt fibre is 10 times stronger than fibreglass, costs only 15 to 20 per cent more and is 100 per cent recyclable and naturally fire resistant. We plan to start building the boat from this innovative composite later this year then set sail in 2027 for the Arctic Impact Project.” The voyage is set to be a non-stop, solo unassisted circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle via both the Northwest and Northeast Passages in a single season, departing from the UK and sailing more than 8,000 nautical miles in three months.

“While climate change has, ironically, opened the path for this record, my focus is on the solutions we can create together,” says Blair. “Extreme sea and weather conditions in the Arctic will test the boat to the absolute maximum, providing data that will be thoroughly analysed and tested for the benefit of the entire boating industry.”

While in the Arctic, Blair will continue marine research projects that she undertook on her Antarctic voyages. These include recording continuous data on ocean health and microplastic pollution across the entire route; contributing essential data to the UN’s Seabed 2030 programme; and collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) for further scientific studies.

Blair holds eight world records for solo sailing, and her book Facing Fear and film Ice Maiden tell the white-knuckle stories behind her first circumnavigation of Antarctica, which nearly killed her. In 2025 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her outstanding service to sailing and dedication to climate action through scientific research. She is also a sought-after public speaker and her boat, Climate Action Now, whose hull sports thousands of colourful Post-it notes from supporters, is a highly recognisable testament to the community involvement her message inspires.

When asked what she considers the most significant of her achievements and awards, she replies without hesitation, “Antarctica. The 2017 and 2022 voyages are like one project in my mind. It took me eight years to set that world record, but what was so amazing was the growth journey I had going through those experiences.”

It takes a particular mindset to undertake such challenging – and lonely – endeavours. “For me, going to sea is like coming home. I’m so happy out there. I don’t see spending three months at sea as a challenge or as this thing I must get through. I see it as a real adventure in life and I just embrace that.”

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