On 24 July 2014 Natsha set off at 09:45, flanked by many supporters on the first of a new type of challenge. The idea of this challenge was for her to daysail from Cowes, via Poole, Portland, Lyme Bay, Exmouth, Dartmouth, Salcombe, Plymouth, Fowey, Falmouth, Newlyn, Lands End, Padstow, Appledore and eventually to Swansea. She got a fantastic welcome at every port of call. The last part of this challenge was to climb Pen y Fan in her Hart Walker frame, a 2907 ft high peak in South Wales. On completing this challenge we raised £15,606 which was shared by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, RNLI and RYA Foundation.
Start Date – 24th July 2014
End Date – 22nd August 2014
Distance sailing – 430 miles
Duration sailing – 23 Days (weather allowing)
Altitude – 2,907ft (886m) Above Sea Level
Stopovers – 13 ports
Natasha wasn’t stopping here though, plans quickly developed for another challenge the next year.
For the full low-down on the Sea and Summit challenge you can read/download a PDF of the full story by clicking here or you can read the news from the challenge at the bottom of this page or review the challenge in the video playlist below.
(Click the next and previous buttons to move through the video clips)This is the route Natasha took, recorded using a Yellowbrick tracker. Hover over the map and use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out or click on the arrow by the YB logo for a larger version.
Challenge News releases
(Most recent first)
– Pride of Sport Awards: Britain’s grassroots heroes honoured at star-studded bash
– Tash Scales New Heights As Sea And Summit Conquered
– Miss Isle Completes Sea And Summit Challenge!
– Disabled Sailing Teen Conquers Seas, Now Faces Mountain Of A Climb (+video)
– 11 Down One To Go For Tash As Mountain Beckons
– Miss Isle Conquers Land’s End
– Rest day ahead as Tash prepares for toughest leg yet
– Champagne sailing for Tash as Sea and Summit arrives in Falmouth
– Rain fails to dampen Tash’s spirits as breeze picks up for leg seven
– Natasha reaches halfway point as biggest test awaits
– Devon ‘Sprint’ Almost Done As Next Rest Day Looms For Tash
– Tash Hits £10K As Sea And Summit Gathers Pace
– Rest Day For Tash As Sea And Summit Arrives In Devon
– Tash In The Mood For More Breeze After Sea And Summit Day 2 Done
– Fair Winds For Inspirational Tash As Sea And Summit Challenge Sets Sail
– Sailing Legends Give Send Off To Inspirational Teenager
– Miss Isle – The Lowdown
In the News
Natasha’s Sea and Summit Challenge has been popping up in the news all over the place. Here are just some of the news items on the challenge:
BBC Spotlight
ITV News
See ITV News video interview here
Teenager with cerebral palsy sails 430 miles in boat she controls by ‘sipping and puffing’ a straw.
A teenager who struggles to move or talk has just completed a epic sailing journey from the Isle of Wight around the south western coast of England to Swansea.
Southern Daily Echo
Natasha Lambert completes Sea and Summit Challenge. (Sailing stages)
Travelling along the South West coast of England and Wales, Natasha reached her final destination, Swansea Marina, with a huge smile on her face after raising more than £11,000.
Natasha, who lives on the Isle of Wight, is now taking on her next challenge and swapping the boat for a walking aid to climb 2,907 ft and reach the highest peak in Southern Britain, Pen Y Fan… (more)
The Cornishman
Tough teen with cerebral palsy sails around treacherous Land’s End on Cornish coastal challenge.
On Thursday she completed the tough 60 mile trip from Newlyn to Padstow taking her past the treacherous Runnelstone Reef off Porthcurno and around the many hidden rocks at Land’s End.
She completed the longest leg of her voyage in 11 hours, arriving into Padstow harbour to warm applause on schedule at 4pm. (This article is no longer available online).
Yahoo News
Disabled teen sailing 400 miles – in boat she controls by puffing down tube – 4th August
A teenager with cerebral palsy is sailing over 400 miles in a specially developed boat which she controls – by blowing through a tube. Inspirational Natasha Lambert, 17, uses a ‘sip and puff’ system, which her electrician dad designed, after she took a shine to sailing.
Natasha is halfway through a month-long challenge that will see her sail over 430 miles from the Isles of Man around the South West of England and onto Wales. Once she arrives in Wales she will climb 2,907ft up Pen Y Fan – the highest peak in Southern Britain – using a specialist walking aid… (more)
ITV News
Teen with severe cerebral palsy sails into Plymouth – 31st July
17-year-old Natasha Lambert has already sailed the channel, and is now sailing from the Isle of Wight to South Wales…. (more)
Yachting Monthly
Inspirational disabled sailor makes port – 30th July
A teenage girl who suffers from cerebral palsy is making good progress on her bid to sail around Britain’s South West coast. Natasha Lambert, 17, was today marking the halfway point of her extraordinary Sea and Summit challenge… (more)
Bournemouth Echo
Inspirational Natasha sailing around the coast in yacht controlled by her mouth – 26th July
INSPIRATIONAL sailor Natasha Lambert has stopped off in Poole after completing the first leg of a truly astonishing 430-mile challenge.
The teenager, who has cerebral palsy and no use of her hands, is sailing around the south west coast using only her mouth to operate a specially-designed yacht… (more)