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Disabled sailor 'won't give up' Disabled sailor 'won't give up'
(10 minutes later)
A quadriplegic yachtswoman has vowed to complete her round Britain voyage despite having hospital treatment after being rescued off Pembrokeshire.A quadriplegic yachtswoman has vowed to complete her round Britain voyage despite having hospital treatment after being rescued off Pembrokeshire.
Hilary Lister, 37, from Kent, is aiming to become the first disabled woman to make the trip solo.Hilary Lister, 37, from Kent, is aiming to become the first disabled woman to make the trip solo.
Late on Friday night she was forced to call for RNLI assistance off Strumble Head in what she called the roughest seas she had every encountered. Late on Friday night she was forced to call for RNLI assistance off Strumble Head in what she called the roughest seas she had ever encountered.
But Ms Lister said: "I wouldn't be much of a sailor if all this put me off."But Ms Lister said: "I wouldn't be much of a sailor if all this put me off."
Ms Lister, who has been disabled since the age of 15, set off on her adventure in May, setting sail from Plymouth in her specially-adapted vessel, the Me Too.Ms Lister, who has been disabled since the age of 15, set off on her adventure in May, setting sail from Plymouth in her specially-adapted vessel, the Me Too.
Supported by a six strong back-up team, she navigates her Artemis 20 yacht by sipping and puffing into a system of straws.Supported by a six strong back-up team, she navigates her Artemis 20 yacht by sipping and puffing into a system of straws.
But the latest leg of her voyage - to be completed in 40 day-long trips - ran into trouble in what she described as "the roughest seas conditions I have ever encountered."But the latest leg of her voyage - to be completed in 40 day-long trips - ran into trouble in what she described as "the roughest seas conditions I have ever encountered."
Even the most experienced yachtsman gets caught out occasionally and we were unfortunate that the weather moved in so quickly Hilary ListerEven the most experienced yachtsman gets caught out occasionally and we were unfortunate that the weather moved in so quickly Hilary Lister
Speaking after being released from Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, where she spent two hours "being warmed up", Ms Lister dismissed her experience as "not really that big a deal."Speaking after being released from Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, where she spent two hours "being warmed up", Ms Lister dismissed her experience as "not really that big a deal."
However she thanked the RNLI crew for their assistance. "The lifeboat made it out to us 'pdq'," she said. "They were fabulous. They were there within minutes.However she thanked the RNLI crew for their assistance. "The lifeboat made it out to us 'pdq'," she said. "They were fabulous. They were there within minutes.
"It was so good to see them coming towards us out of the dark when we were feeling cold and very wet.""It was so good to see them coming towards us out of the dark when we were feeling cold and very wet."
'Concerned''Concerned'
Ms Lister explained that she had set out from Milford Haven at 1430 BST on Friday, "a little late" as she had been concerned about the weather.Ms Lister explained that she had set out from Milford Haven at 1430 BST on Friday, "a little late" as she had been concerned about the weather.
"The idea was to get out on the water," she said, "have a bit of a sail to see if the boat and weather was okay. If yes, then we would carry on.""The idea was to get out on the water," she said, "have a bit of a sail to see if the boat and weather was okay. If yes, then we would carry on."
After making good progress the decision was taken for her to continue her journey, but towards Strumble Head the wind picked up.After making good progress the decision was taken for her to continue her journey, but towards Strumble Head the wind picked up.
"At that point I asked for someone from my back-up team to come aboard to take my sail down a bit."At that point I asked for someone from my back-up team to come aboard to take my sail down a bit.
"Ten minutes later I decided the seas were getting up a bit more so I gave the order to drop the sails. We had a hiccup with one which delayed us for 20 minutes.""Ten minutes later I decided the seas were getting up a bit more so I gave the order to drop the sails. We had a hiccup with one which delayed us for 20 minutes."
A prior arrangement had been made for the RNLI's Fishguard lifeboat to come out and meet Hilary's yacht off Strumble Head and escort her in to shore.A prior arrangement had been made for the RNLI's Fishguard lifeboat to come out and meet Hilary's yacht off Strumble Head and escort her in to shore.
But at 2300 BST, with the seas fiercer still, Ms Lister made a call to the coastguard asking for assistance rather than just an escort.But at 2300 BST, with the seas fiercer still, Ms Lister made a call to the coastguard asking for assistance rather than just an escort.
"The coastguard had been trying to contact us because we were now overdue," she said, "but where we were it was very difficult to get any VHF signal at all.""The coastguard had been trying to contact us because we were now overdue," she said, "but where we were it was very difficult to get any VHF signal at all."
After being towed inshore she was transferred to the lifeboat and then by ambulance to hospital.After being towed inshore she was transferred to the lifeboat and then by ambulance to hospital.
"They gave me oxygen as a precaution and I spent two hours in Withybush Hospital being warmed up."They gave me oxygen as a precaution and I spent two hours in Withybush Hospital being warmed up.
"There were no cases of hypothermia and we were all fine. They just needed to check me out because I cannot control my body temperature.""There were no cases of hypothermia and we were all fine. They just needed to check me out because I cannot control my body temperature."
'Difficult sails''Difficult sails'
Ms Lister, an Oxford biochemistry graduate, explained that by making her voyage she was attempting to push back the boundaries of what is possible for a disabled sailor.Ms Lister, an Oxford biochemistry graduate, explained that by making her voyage she was attempting to push back the boundaries of what is possible for a disabled sailor.
"That means we have to attempt some difficult sails," she said."That means we have to attempt some difficult sails," she said.
"Even the most experienced yachtsman gets caught out occasionally and we were unfortunate that the weather moved in so quickly.""Even the most experienced yachtsman gets caught out occasionally and we were unfortunate that the weather moved in so quickly."
She also paid tribute to her back-up team.She also paid tribute to her back-up team.
"Huw, the guy on the boat with me, spent most of his time trying to keep me dry," she said."Huw, the guy on the boat with me, spent most of his time trying to keep me dry," she said.
"At one point we were playing 'I Spy' but as we could only really see three things - our hands, the deck and the water - it didn't last for long.""At one point we were playing 'I Spy' but as we could only really see three things - our hands, the deck and the water - it didn't last for long."
She said she plans to continue with the next leg of her voyage, to Wexford in Ireland, when when the storm has died down and the team has had a chance to rest.She said she plans to continue with the next leg of her voyage, to Wexford in Ireland, when when the storm has died down and the team has had a chance to rest.
If successful, she will become the first disabled sailor to cross the Irish Sea - having already become the first quadriplegic sailor to sail solo across the English Channel in 2005 and the first quadriplegic woman to sail around the Isle of Wight in 2007.If successful, she will become the first disabled sailor to cross the Irish Sea - having already become the first quadriplegic sailor to sail solo across the English Channel in 2005 and the first quadriplegic woman to sail around the Isle of Wight in 2007.
She hopes to complete her round Britain voyage in August.She hopes to complete her round Britain voyage in August.