Lisa McDonald will lead one of the two Nautor Challenge V.O.60s in this year’s Volvo Ocean Race. The first thing she will do is to select the all female crew together with Grant Dalton who is head of sport and technical set-up for the syndicate and skipper of the other Nautor Challenge boat.

“I’m delighted to be part of the Nautor Challenge two boat campaign and to be hired by Grant Dalton to head one of the two Nautor Challenge boats is a brilliant opportunity to combine forces with one of the world’s leading offshore skippers”, says Lisa McDonald, who is based at Hamble in the U.K.

“Four years ago, EF provided a foundation for our female team to learn the ways of offshore grand prix sailing. Now we are raising the game and bring the experience to Nautor Challenge with skills, strength and determination,” she continues.

Lisa McDonald and Grant Dalton have started the thorough work to select the 11 other members of the female crew. It could consist of some of the girls from the former Whitbread boat: EF Education, combined with some other females that not yet have had the chance to take part. Offshore experience could be complemented with some dinghy talents.

Lisa McDonald is American by birth, but lives in the UK, and has sailed in most of the best regattas across the world. She was part of the first full female entry in the 1995 America’s Cup, onboard America3, Mighty Mary. She also sailed in the recent America’s Cup onboard America True. Lisa has sailed the Sydney to Hobart in 1995 and 1998, the Admiral’s Cups in 1995 and 1999 and the Fastnet Races of 1993 and 1997. Most appropriately, Lisa was a member onboard EF Education in the Whitbread Round the World 1997/98 with an all-female crew.