High winds delay disabled sailor

Hilary Lister was towed out of Dover harbour on Monday

A Kent woman who is aiming to become the first female quadraplegic to sail solo around Britain is hoping to make up lost time after a frustrating start.

Hilary Lister, who sailed from Dover on Monday, is setting off from Chichester in West Sussex on Sunday night.

She hopes that after planned stops in Lymington, Hampshire and Portland, Dorset, she will be back on schedule.

Unexpectedly high winds and minor technical problems with her boat meant a three-day stay in Brighton marina.

"It's been windier than we thought and from the wrong direction, as far as I am concerned," she said.

"But there are worse places to be stuck than Brighton."

Mrs Lister, 36, from Canterbury, uses a "sip-and-puff" system of straws to control her boat with breath.

The people who are in the marinas to meet us are fantastic - it is just an incredible experience for all of us Hilary Lister

She has no movement below her neck and operates the sails and tiller of Artemis 20 with the system.

Project director Tony Leppard said the difficulties with the boat were "mechanical rather than electronic".

He said the delays last week were "not ideal".

"But we fully expected to have hold-ups because of the weather and other issues - at worst we are a day behind schedule.

"There are more difficult waters to come around Land's End and the north coast of Cornwall.

"That could potentially be an 18-hour sail so it could be quite a challenge."

'Incredible experience'

Mrs Lister said her enthusiasm was undimmed and she had been struck by the generosity of the people she had met on the way.

"The people who are in the marinas to meet us are fantastic - it is just an incredible experience for all of us," she said.

Mrs Lister became the first quadriplegic sailor to cross the English Channel in 2005 and in July last year she circumnavigated the Isle of Wight.

She is supported by a six-strong crew, half of whom sail a few hundred yards behind her and half who travel on land.

Mrs Lister is supported by land and sea crews who monitor her progress.