Disabled Kent sailor Hilary Lister in new challenge

A disabled yachtswoman who became the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around Britain is planning a new challenge in the Gulf. Hilary Lister, 37, from Faversham in Kent, is aiming to sail 100 miles around the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Her specially-adapted vessel is designed to be operated through three straws, which allow her to control the boat using a "sip-and-puff" system. Ms Lister, who is disabled from the neck down, will set sail on 13 April.

The Oxford University graduate has used a wheelchair since she was 15 because of a progressive neurological disorder, reflex sympathetic dystrophy. She said: "Before I was introduced to sailing in 2003, my life had reached rock bottom. I was in constant pain and even contemplated taking my own life. Since then, I have discovered a new sense of freedom on the water, which has enabled me to achieve things I never imagined possible."

Ms Lister became the first quadriplegic sailor to sail solo across the English Channel in 2005 and two years later was the first quadriplegic woman to sail around the Isle of Wight. Her round-Britain attempt started in Dover in June 2009 and ended in Cornwall two months later. Her latest trip is to raise funds for Bahrain Mobility International, which provides services to disabled people throughout the country.