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'Ice Maiden' Lisa Blair attempts new world record - around NZ

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Australian solo sailor Lisa Blair has embarked on a new world record attempt - on a 2,200 nm circumnavigation around New Zealand not yet recorded.

Blair set off aboard her yacht Climate Action Now from North Head this morning and will attempt to sail from Auckland to Auckland - less than a month after smashing the solo speed record from Sydney to Auckland by more than four days.

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) race management volunteers were there to record Blair's official start time and wish her well as she set a course north out to Great Barrier Island.

She has now begun a journey to see her rounding New Zealand’s northernmost point at Cape Reinga where two oceans collide as she crosses from the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea. Her progress can be followed via a live tracker here .    The voyage is expected to take 18 days. It will take her down the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island heading into a predicted storm-force wind system around New Plymouth before she crosses Cook Strait and into headwinds all down the West Coast of the South Island.    As Blair reaches the south Fiordland region, she will have no shelter from the Southern Ocean storms and dangerous swells before pressing south to round Stewart Island and the Southwest Cape where the sea depth dramatically reduces from 5km to 50m on the shelf causing noted rogue waves.    Turning northwards past Dunedin, headwinds are again predicted and major commercial fishing grounds with long-line nets will provide a hazard before heading into major commercial and recreational boating regions up the coast. This will test her resilience with 20-minute micro sleeps the whole journey home to avoid dangerous traffic and hazards.     The record, to be adjudicated by the RNZYS in collaboration with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) and the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), will require Blair's course to enclose the whole of New Zealand including all rocks and islands lying within 8nm of the mainland – a rhumb line distance of 2,200nm, although her journey will be much longer to sail. 

Lisa Blair has set  off on a circumnavigation of New Zealand. Photos / Corrina Ridgeway

  Blair is an ardent promoter of climate action with her several world record journeys involving the collection of microplastic samples for scientific analysis and raising awareness of ocean pollution issues as well as advocacy for solutions and change for the health of the ocean.    “I want to see a happy and healthy planet and people won’t protect what they can’t  understand, so I try to share my love of the ocean and this planet with my records. I think adventurers have a responsibility to become storytellers and communicators,” said Blair, who was named 2022 Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year.    Her sustainability journey first started in 2012 while sailing around the world in the Clipper  Round the World Yacht Race.    “We were more than 20 days from land sailing across the Southern Ocean from South Africa to New Zealand. I was at the helm looking out when we crested a wave and there, off our bow was a Styrofoam box floating past. We were thousands of miles from land in the most remote regions of the planet and I was seeing plastic. I couldn’t believe it.”    In 2015 Blair launched her Climate Action Now message and began collecting post-it-note messages from people in the public. Her yacht Climate Action Now is adorned with thousands of messages of environmental actions from members of the community.    She is the current world record holder for sailing solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica in 2022, breaking the record by 10 days to add to her four previous world records and now two new pending Sydney to Auckland records.    Blair has also teamed up with filmmakers Nathaniel C. T. Jackson and James Blannin-Ferguson to make a feature-length documentary tracking her ambitious and treacherous solo voyage around Antarctica. Screenings of the world premiere of  Ice Maiden  will be at the Doc Edge Festival in Christchurch from June 19 to 30, in Auckland (July 3-14), Wellington (July 3-14) and then nationwide via the virtual cinema (July 15-31).

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‘Ice Maiden’: An unforgettable true story of courage and resilience

At the beginning of Ice Maiden , Aussie sailor/adventurer Lisa Blair announces that she aims to be the first female to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around Antarctica. Only two men have previously accomplished this feat in 102 days. The perilous challenge is set.

As a young child Lisa fell in love with sailing as the sense of adventure was in her family’s blood. She was a drug addict – her drug was adventure and she loved being on the ocean alone.

Lisa initially joined the Clipper Round the World Yacht race with several sailors on board. When her team won, she realized that she could sail on her own, but to attempt a solo would have been challenging and an extreme risk.

This idea consumed her life, but there were many ominous signs for her to discontinue. She was told, “This is not for you, you can’t do it, you don’t have enough experience!” by everyone she received advice from.

Her mother even announced that her daughter was crazy to attempt such a record. Are women deemed as not capable and dismissed of such challenges? Would Lisa ultimately prove them all wrong?

Lisa sailed her 50 ft yacht through monstrous seasonal storms with swells over 5 – 9 metres, around icebergs and reefs. The conditions were brutal and exhausting but through her self-belief, persistence and her ‘don’t give up attitude’ she managed to overcome all obstacles nature threw at her, until things went utterly wrong, and the chilling announcement was made – ‘Lisa is 1095 nautical miles from land, 3 days from help, all alone – and her boat is sinking…’

This is not a traditional placid documentary. It’s a riveting, blood-pumping, suspenseful and an edge-of-your seat dark insight into the world of solo sailing that feels more like dramatic fiction and dispels the belief that sailing is an ultra-glamorous sport.

A collage of photographs, videos, and interviews with family members, meteorologists and notably adventurer Dick Smith aid in bringing this survival story to the screen. Several Cameras on the yacht and Lisa filming herself on her computer also compound to the dark and nightmarish excitement that audiences should feel.

Ice Maiden also unashamedly touches on anti-pollution and climate change issues – signified by the yacht’s name Climate Change Now.

Lisa Blair is a sporting icon that Australia should be proud of. We’d all like the fame and glory associated with attempting such a journey but most people wouldn’t be game.

Viewers are left with an important message from Lisa Blair – “It’s not how you die, but how you live.”

Aug 11 Hayden Orpheum.  Aug 12 Ritz Randwick

Booking details: https://icemaidenfilm.com

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The Female Siberian Ice Maiden Whose Legend Lives On

• Read Later  

Buried in permafrost soil around the 5th century AD, a 35-year-old woman was discovered in the Republic of Altai, Russia. Finding the woman helped archaeologists develop deeper understanding of the people that lived in this remote region. The female, who is now known as the Siberian Ice Maiden was buried with a fascinating range of artifacts, all of which were remarkably preserved by the permafrost. This allowed for further information to be learned about the region and how the culture viewed death and the afterlife.

The Discovery of the Ice Maiden on the Remote Ukok Plateau

Archaeologist Dr. Natalia Polosmak headed the expedition to locate burial chambers in the Ukok region . In a 1998 interview with NOVA broadcast on PBS , Polosmak explained :

“The Pazyryk believed that after they died they would go to a mountain pasture. Ukok seemed to me the sort of place where the souls of the Pazyryk would have gathered.”

The Ukok Plateau where the Ice Maiden’s tomb was found in 1993. (Kobsev at ru.wikipedia / CC BY 2.5 )

The region is surrounded by mountains and modern-day Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. The Ukok Plateau is part of the "Golden Mountains of Siberia," a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Rock carving from the Iron and Bronze Age have been found around the region, with some rock art dating back 10,000 years ago to the Paleolithic era .

• Altai Rock Art Images Reveal Insights Into Ancient Nomadic Culture
• Mummified new-born baby protected in leather shroud for 1,500 years ago found in Altai Mountains

The artifacts and discoveries in the sector have been highly preserved for over 2000 years due to the permafrost . The burials were performed high in the mountains under mounds of stones which allowed water to seep down but prevented the Sun's heat from reaching what was buried beneath. During the harsh winter conditions, the ground and the chambers would have been permanently frozen.

The Telengits, an Altaian indigenous tribe, believe that the Ukok Plateau was a place of burial and worship for their ancestors. The region is still sacred to these people. The first archeological explorations in the area started in the 1920s under the direction of Russian archaeologist Sergei Rodenko.

Some of the first cultural items discovered in the 1920s were woolen rugs, which gave an insight into these people's culture. But the 1993 discovery of the Ice Maiden’s tomb provided much more information about the culture. The artifacts found in her tomb included jewels, food, medicine, and horses.

The wooden chamber where the Ice Maiden’s remains were found in 1993, as reconstructed for her museum exhibit in eastern Russia. ( Siberian Times )

What Was Found in the Tomb

Discovered deep below a burial mound, the Russian archaeologists found a large wooden chamber that had been flooded with water and was permanently frozen. The outer section of the tomb revealed the remains of six frozen horses . The horses' stomachs were well preserved. This made a further analysis of the horses possible, including when they last ate.

The social status and importance of the woman were indicated by the sacrifice and burial of horses with her body. In the PBS , Polosmak stated, “These animals, no doubt of great value in their time, all had been sacrificed.”

It was believed these offerings would assist in escorting her to the next world. This was a common belief in many burial cultures around the world including the ancient Egyptians .

Next to the horses was a coffin created from a solid piece of larch wood and covered in leather appliqué deer figures . Beside the coffin were two small wooden tables believed to have been used to hold food and drinks. A wooden vessel was also found, which, based on the dairy residue inside it, likely contained yogurt .

When Polosmak and her team opened the coffin, they were disappointed to discover the inside of the coffin was completed frozen and the milky white color of the frozen mass in the coffin prevented them from seeing what was contained within.

• 5,000 Years Ago, Ancient Scientists Used Chemical Reactions to Create Pigments in Altai Mountains
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They needed to thaw out the body without harming it, and this required careful, slow melting. The method the team used was to heat water and pour a cup at a time of the hot water onto the ice block in the coffin.

The tattoos on the body are exceptional and considered to be world class in terms of age and design. ( Siberian Times )

A High-status Woman With Amazing Tattoos

Discovering that the body inside the tomb was a woman provided new insights into how women were viewed in ancient times in Siberia. Male burial tombs had been found in the region, but never a woman’s.

After her body thawed, researchers were able to look at and study her remains unhindered by the ice. One of the most shocking discoveries was her tattoos . Smoot, a researcher in the team noted in the PBS report:

“Her left arm, the right thumb, and then again on her left shoulder are these amazing tattoos. Creatures just in immediate action poses, and they are in fact twisted oddly at 180 degree angles. They have amazing horns that end in flowers, fantastic creatures.”

Her tattoos are some of the best-preserved body ink work found anywhere in the world. Tattoos were used as a form of identification, and the Pazyryk people believed that tattoos would help locate loved ones after death.

One of her most significant tattoos is believed to be a mythological animal, a deer with a griffin's beak and the antlers of Capricorn .

The tattoos also helped researchers understand the woman's social status and her age. Initial conclusions were that she was of elite status and probably quite young (around 30) when she died.

The cause of her death was not known until 2010. It is believed that she died from breast cancer and injuries from a fall. In her coffin was a container of cannabis , a drug commonly used during this time to treat chronic pain.

A reconstruction of what the Ice Maiden looked like, and the clothing she likely wore. ( Siberian Times )

Social Status: A Female Shaman?

When the woman was discovered, researchers believed that she might have been a priestess or a shaman. This was because of items discovered in her tomb and the deer tattoos on her body.

A black felt headdress was also found in her coffin, gold leaf embroidered with what was likely a depiction of the tree of life. The patterns of fifteen types of birds were sewn into the headdress. Dr. Natalia Polosmak explained the importance of the headdress to PBS :

“There's no need to imagine how the various details were attached because it was found intact. It was also an expression of this woman's life. It showed her place in society, her family, and tribe.”

Many anthropologists believe that her elite status was not that of a princess but rather of a female shaman. Dr. Natalia Polosmak stated in the Siberian Times :

“Anthropologists believe that only her migration to the winter camp could make this seriously sick and feeble woman mount a horse. More interesting is that her kinsmen did not leave her to die, nor kill her, but took her to the winter camp.”

Her status as a shaman would explain why her kinsmen brought her to the winter camp and continued to care for her as she was dying. It was likely that her use of cannabis products to ease her pain resulted in hallucinogenic "visions." Dr. Polosmak explained Princess Tisulsky’s social status to PBS :

“This young woman, buried with such ceremony, with her body covered in tattoos, was no ordinary member of society. She may have held a special position because she was blessed with a talent valued in that society. She could have been a shaman. She may have had the ability to heal people or predict the weather.”

It became clear to the researchers that much care went into keeping the woman alive and comfortable towards the end of her life. The members of her tribe highly respected her, and carefully buried her.

She was buried with silks, gold-painted jewelry, and thigh-high riding boots.

Dr. Polosmak further explained her status: “ It was an emblem of wealth and prestige, and it's found in the burial mound of only the richest and most notable figures.”

Using MRI scans the researchers were able to learn more about the age and health of the princess. ( auremar / Adobe Stock)

MRI Scans and DNA Tests Revealed Much More

When the first excavation of the tomb was underway, researchers posed many questions about this woman. Lucky with modern science, many questions were answered. The research facility in Novosibirsk, Russia, ran DNA tests, MRI scans, and even made reconstructions of the woman’s face.

Her age was one of the biggest questions. Dr Polosmak brought the deceased princess to Rudolph Hauri, a forensic pathologist in Switzerland. He examined her skull to determine her approximate age. Hauri said on PBS :

“These fissures, these are widely open on this skull. That means the skull is young—perhaps between 20 and 30.”

An MRI scan determined that she suffered from osteomyelitis, a type of bone or bone marrow infection that occurs in childhood or adolescence. They were able to determine that she likely fell from a horse resulting in a severe injury.

One of the most shocking discoveries from the MRI was evidence of breast cancer. Dr Polosmak said to the Siberian Times :

“When she was a little over 20 years old, she became ill with another serious disease - breast cancer.  It painfully destroyed her.”

Further research determined that she was not buried in a line of family tombs and was separated from the other mound burials found nearby. Her separate burial suggests that Ukok women lived a more isolated life from their family and kin.

Ultimately, the princess died of breast cancer and this was proven with MRI body scans. ( Axel Kock / Adobe Stock)

Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Dr. Andrey Letyagin of the Institute of Physiology and Fundamental Medicine explained to Siberian Times :

“During the imaging of mammary glands, we paid attention to their asymmetric structure and the varying asymmetry of the MRI signal. We are dealing with a primary tumor in the right breast and right axial lymph nodes with metastases.”

Her battle with stage four breast cancer would have left her weak and likely bed-bound for the last few months of her life. Researchers believe that she was brought to their winter camp in Ukok to die. While on the journey, she likely fell off her horse due to increased weakness.

In the preserved stomachs of the horses found in the tomb, the scientists found a fly larva. This type of larva is only alive at the end of June in this region, which indicated that the burial must have occurred towards the end of that month. This might have been when her kinsmen were able to dig a chamber in the defrosted ground, likely after she had passed away.

What female shamans of the period likely wore. ( Siberian Times )

The Local Siberian Tribal Elders Want Their Princess Back

Many people, including the elders of the local Siberian tribes have asked that the Ice Maiden’s remains be reburied again where they were found. Many locals in the area have superstitions about what might come to pass if she is not reburied including natural disasters.

The Altai peoples believe that the maiden is one of their legendary ancestors even though modern DNA testing concluded that her remains are from the Pazyryk culture and not from the Altai culture.

• Burial Site of Siberian Archer with Intricate Arrows Unearthed in Altai Republic
• Discovery of ancient bones in Altai Mountains cave may be missing link in understanding human origins

Some reports claim that her tomb was a closed gate to the underworld and that the opening of her tomb caused the 2003 earthquake and the record floods in 2003.

Her body was stored in a research facility in Novosibirsk, Russia, from 1993 to 2014.

At present, she is housed in a special mausoleum at the Republican National Museum in Gorno-Altaisk.

The Altai clan people want her remains to be buried in her original grave and not in the mausoleum. Councilman Akay Kine of the Altai clan said this to RT News :

“The council of elders has taken its decision, so the mummy of the revered woman will finally be buried.”

However, there are no reports that this has happened as of the time of writing.

Further issues have arisen, and the Altai's local government has banned all excavations in the remote region. An elder from the Altai clan explained his frustration to the Siberian Times :

“Today, we honour the sacred beliefs of our ancestors like three millennia ago,' said one elder. 'We have been burying people according to Scythian traditions. We want respect for our traditions.”

Until her body is reburied as the elders' request, she will remain in the Republican National Museum in Gorno-Altaisk, where viewers and researchers can marvel at amazing beauty and mystery of Princess Tisulsky.

Top image: The Siberian Ice Maiden was one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 1990s and now, thanks to science, we know a lot more about her.      Source: e_serebryakova / Adobe Stock

By Sarah Piraino

Lewis, S. 1998. " Ice Mummies: Siberian Ice Maiden. ” PBS. Available at: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2517siberian.html

Liesowska, A. 2014. " Iconic 2,500 year old Siberian princess 'died from breast cancer', reveals MRI scan " The Siberian Times. Available at: http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/features/iconic-2500-year-old-siberian-princess-died-from-breast-cancer-reveals-unique-mri-scan/

Siberian Times Reporter. 2012. " Siberian Princess reveals her 2,500 year old tattoos " The Siberian Times. Available at: http://siberiantimes.com/culture/others/features/siberian-princess-reveals-her-2500-year-old-tattoos/

2014. “Siberian Elders Vote to Bury 2,500 yo Mummy to Stop Quakes, Floods” RT. Available at: https://www.rt.com/news/181308-siberian-ice-maiden-bury/

2020. “Conservation of the sacred Ukok Plateau” The Altai Project. Available at: https://www.altaiproject.org/2020/12/sacred-ukok-plateau-conservation/

Polosmak, N. 1994. "A Mummy Unearthed from the Pastures of Heaven" . National Geographic: 80–103. p. 87.

People don’t change.  They still make mistakes in the youth.

Nobody gets paid to tell the truth.

Sarah has a degree in Early Modern European History from Syracuse University, where she wrote and presented her research at conferences. While in school, she took many Russian and English literature classes while pursuing her degree. She has always been... Read More

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‘Maiden’ Review: An All-Female Crew’s Sail of the Century

By Peter Travers

Peter Travers

Gender bias gets knocked backwards on its ass in this rousing doc named after the first ship crewed by an all-female team in the Whitbread Round the World Race. The year was 1989, when male chauvinists were dripping with disbelief that these “girls” could survive a nine-month yacht race, much less emerge as real contenders in a 32,000 nautical mile sailing sprint from Southampton, England, and back.

You don’t have to know port from starboard to build a rooting interest in the dazzling portrait that director Alex Holmes ( Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story ) has put together with invaluable help from editor Katie Bryer. He’s raided the archives and included interviews with the participants, who look back in terror and joy on their adventure — as well as flipping the bird to the fools who said it couldn’t be done.

The film rightly puts its focus on Tracy Edwards, the Maiden’s 24-year-old British captain who came up from deck-hand jobs and cooking on charter boats to lead her crew. The men of the media laughed and called the Maiden “a tin full of tarts.” Meanwhile, Edwards was winning financial support from King Hussein of Jordan and retooling a scarily un-seaworthy vessel into a shipshape contender that could handle the treacherous trek from Uruguay to Australia.

There are laughs to be had, especially when the females aboard pose for photos on deck wearing skimpy swim suits to clown the media for its sexist attitude towards them. Mostly, though, tension is the operative word. “The ocean is always trying to kill you,” says Edwards early on. She’s not kidding.

Some of the footage, shot by crew members, radiates hold-your-breath suspense, especially when the Maiden pushes through the ice floes of the Southern Ocean, near Antarctica. You’ll have your heart in your mouth as the yacht enters the final stretch. So sounds the trumpets and roll out the cheers for these female pioneers. They’re still a cause for celebration.

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'maiden': groundbreaking 1989 sailing race for all-female crew.

Kenneth Turan

A new documentary tells the story of the first all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World sailing race in 1989. The crew was led by a 24-year-old and the boat was called Maiden.

Copyright © 2019 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

paintings to entertain, inform and inspire : website established 1999

Maiden and Ice Maiden – the story

Ice maiden, this is a magnificent and historic original painting produced for and with the the co-operation of the captain, tracy edwards..

“ Ice Maiden ” is an inspiration to all who struggle in particular, against blind prejudice.

Available 1 remaining print signed by the captain  and artist as a  numbered edition price £187.00  including postage) .

This now historic painting is one of 35 of mine that had the honour of being exhibited in the European Parliament, Brussels  (May 2011) and later Exhibited at the RORYC & National Maritime Museum.

The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich wanted this painting, an honour, however, it seemed to me, I hope you agree, more appropriate for Tracy Edwards to buy this definitive painting.

Tracy Edwards, a quote

“ Gordon Frickers & the Maiden Team combined to produce this painting which for me, the definitive image from that remarkable Whitbread race “ Tracy Edwards OBE.

Looking for the new masters of the 21 st century, the very best in modern painting investments?

You have found one here.

Maiden and Ice Maiden

The yacht “ Maiden “, according to her log, is in the Antarctic Ocean 50° 4′ South, on the morning of the 10th of November 1989, shortly after encountering icebergs.

Thanks to Howard Gibbons her team manager Tracy Edwards and I had a meeting during which interviewing her to discuss painting her yacht in action.

Tracy wanted ‘Maiden’ painted to publicise her ‘Maiden’ project which for me has been a pleasure and a privileged.

“Ice Maiden” has become a famous painting (to this date I have only 1 signed print left, £187. and inc P & P),

order easily

You can own this painting from here easily, safely using £ bank to bank or by credit card Purchase Now via PayPal in any currency or in instalments by arrangement, contact us.

This yacht race exists today as the McIntyre Ocean Globe Race and is the considered to be the world’s premier and toughest International offshore races.

This may be your last chance to grab and treasure one the only 1 remaining print signed by the captain Tracy Edwards and the artist Gordon Frickers as a numbered edition price £187.00 including postage.

Tracy and Howard Gibbons, meeting , interviewing them, to paint her yacht in action as she wanted ‘Maiden’ painted to support ~ ‘Maiden’ ~ with my modest talent, has been a pleasure and a privileged.

“Ice Maiden” has become a famous painting (to this date I have only 1 signed print left, £177. and inc P & P),

Newer, “Maiden Home” was commissioned last year by Tracy Edwards.

This may be your last chance to grab and treasure one the only 1 remaining print  signed by the captain Tracy Edwards and the artist Gordon Frickers as a numbered edition price £167.00 including postage.

Purchase Now   , Paypal or bank to bank;

o r by arrangement with Gordon Frickers , in instalments.

How much in m y currency ?  Try this   free XE Currency converter.

Maiden for a maiden, painting Ice Maiden for Tracy Edwards

Numerous ideas were discussed with Tracy Edwards, for example when the girls entered Miami provocatively wearing teeny weenie bikinis.

Tracy Edwards felt that this was the moment that would epitomise for the crew what the race was about for her & all her team.

In discussion with me Tracy felt that for the crew and team the defining moment is as shown in this painting about which when she saw it completed at the Royal Southampton Yacht Club Tracy Edwards first word was “ WOW “ !

The yacht’s log book and crew interviews helped inspire this painting.

The renowned marine photographer Rick Tomlinson generously provided photo references and of course I took a long searching look at the boat.

Maiden Team

The achievement demonstrated by these women silenced their many critics who insisted an all women team would never complete the race.

A typical comment was “the women will fall out long before the voyage is done” .

The team defied them all by winning 2 of the most demanding legs of the race with what was clearly not ‘a money is no object’ boat and by returning to a thoroughly deserved hero’s reception at  Freemantle, Auckland, Florida and finally to Ocean village, Southampton .

I was asked, an honour, by the then head of paintings at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, if I would give this painting, ‘Ice Maiden’ to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

This painting is among those 35 of mine honoured by being exhibited, by invitation, at the European Parliament, Brussels  (May 2011).

A book and a film of the challenge were produced.

You can find the latter on Utube, https:// www.youtube.com /watch?v=tKCebH-CXZs

“ The painting arrived safe and sound and it is as wonderful as I expected!  It will be displayed at the RORC and then Maritime Museum ”. 28,02,2017

Paintings have many uses, as illustrations, book covers and so on, here is one of the more unusual ones,

Timeless paintings, royal gifts, the test of true greatness, classics, the of best long term fine art investments.

Would you like to acquire or commission a painting like this?

You can purchase via our ‘ Payments ‘ page using Paypal or bank to bank

By arrangement payments can be in instalments. How much in my currency? Try our free XE Currency converter .

Contact Frickers marine paintings and prints

Landline : + 33 (0) 9 79 01 93 20

Mobile : + 6 10 66 19 26, E : artistfrickers at gmail.com

WhatsApp, Telegram.com or Facebook Messenger to  ‘gordonfrickers’

Email :  artistfrickersatgmail.com : note, the ‘at’ is to fool robots and should be replaced with @ : if it arrives I always reply.

Websites : www.frickers.co.uk/art (marine & aviation)

& www.artfrickers.com (Landscapes & portraits).

Copyright 202 2 and legal moral rights for painters :

Sharing my pages and posts for private use helps everyone.

For commercial use our Fees and   T erms   are among the most generous on the Internet.

Don’t hesitate to ask for details.

Gordon Frickers © updated 20.10.2022

You are cordially invited to follow and share The Art of Gordon Frickers on his blog and or www.facebook.com/gordonfrickers .

Tracy Edwards, a very Determined woman would not let the opportunity to enter the race pass. She found a second hand boat, raising the money, even selling her home, rebuilt the yacht, found a sponsor (Royal Jordanian Airlines) for her boat and sailing her challenge, thanks in part to the Duchess of York, then raced with an admirable panache in the gruelling Whitbread Round the World Race.

Maiden was Sponsored by Royal Jordanian Airlines

Maiden sailed sailed into history as the first all women crew to complete a circumnavigation including winning their class on two legs of the toughest legs in the Southern Ocean of this International race.

Maiden, this painting was one of 35 by Frickers that had the honour of a one man exhibition in the European Parliament, Brussels  (May 2011) and was shown at the RORYC & National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

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The mystery of the Siberian Ice Maiden

An artistic reconstruction of the image of the 'Siberian Ice Maiden' by Ekaterina Shardakova.

WARNING: this article includes graphic images some readers may find disturbing.

In 1993, Russian archaeologist Natalya Polosmak and her team discovered an ancient tomb at the Ukok Plateau, in the Altai Mountains region of Russia near the border with China.

The Ukok plateau.

The contents of the tomb were embedded in ice. As the archaeologists carefully melted the ice, they saw a burial of some very important person – six horses in full harnesses were sacrificed and buried near a wooden coffin made of a solid larch wood tree trunk. Inside the coffin, a body of a young woman was interred, in an astonishing state of preservation – even the tattoos on her skin could be clearly seen.

The carcass of the 'Siberian Ice Maiden,' with her tattooed arm visible.

The archaeologists transported the body to Novosibirsk to carry out the necessary research. But it caused an outrage among the Altai people. They still believe the ‘Princess of Ukok Plateau,’ or, as she was called in English-language press, ‘The Siberian Ice Maiden,’ is the mystical keeper of Altai and the guardian against the evil powers. The locals claimed that the ‘Princess’ was the progenitor of Altai people and must be returned to her place of burial.

Was she really a princess?

The reconstruction of the 'Siberian Ice Maiden's' burial.

The woman’s body, carefully embalmed using peat and bark, was laid on its side as if she were asleep. She was young and her hair was shaved, but she wore a wig and a tall hat. She was 167cm tall. Some tribal animal-style tattoos remained on her pale skin: creatures with horns that evolved into floral shapes. Her coffin was made large enough to accommodate the 90cm felt headdress she wore. She was also wearing a long wool skirt with red and white stripes and white felt stockings.

The ‘Maiden’ belonged to the Pazyryk culture. The Pazyryk people, a congregation of Scythian nomadic tribes, lived in the Altai mountains in the 6th to 3rd centuries B.C. But how could she be preserved so well?

The 'Maiden's' tattoos.

Somehow, many Pazyryk burials in this region were flooded, possibly with underground waters, and then froze – so the organic remains were preserved almost untouched by decay. During the 20 years the ‘Maiden’ spent in Novosibirsk, scientists studied her carcass quite well and have published their findings.

The embalmed body was buried at least three months after death. All this time, the mysterious woman continued to play a special role in the life of her tribe — for example, she was put in some chairs, which can be seen from the traces on the body. At the same time, a complex, time-consuming ceremony of embalming is a sign of the extraordinary status of the deceased. However, the scientists deny her status as a ‘Princess.’

The reconstructed facial image of the 'Siberian Ice Maiden.'

“It’s not accurate to call her a ‘princess’. She was not a princess, she was a representative of the middle layer of the Pazyryk society,” archaeologist Vyacheslav Molodin, academician at the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Natalya Polosmak’s husband, told “Expert-Siberia” magazine in 2012. “The hype around our discovery arises when some events occur in the Altai: either elections, or earthquakes, or a local budget deficit. Immediately, this "lady" is being brought up: [some people claim that] all the troubles occur because she is in Novosibirsk, and not in the Altai,” Molodin concluded.

The female shaman

The tomb of the ‘Ice Maiden’ was not as big and richly decorated as the tombs of Pazyryk noble people, located in the same area. But what is more important, it’s located at a distance from the ‘noble’ burials.

In ancient cultures, such distant burial was performed with women whose professional occupation involved a vow of celibacy. According to scientists, she was probably a healer or a shaman. She inhaled periodically the fumes of copper and mercury (this was established thanks to chemical analyses), which was most likely connected with some rites. The fumes were certainly harmful to the woman's health. But they could not be fatal. So what did the Altai maiden die of?

The mummy being packed for transportation back to Altai from Novosibirsk. 2012.

The mystery was solved only in the 2010s with the help of a computed tomography scan. It showed that the maiden suffered from breast cancer that killed her in about three years. She was 25 at the time of her death. The DNA research performed on the remains showed that the ‘Maiden’ is genetically closely related to contemporary Selkup and Ket peoples – indigenous Siberian tribes still living in Russia.

In 2012, the mummy returned to Altai – but not to its tomb. “While shamans performed rituals at the place where she was excavated,” Gertjan Plets wrote for “Post-Soviet Affairs” in 2019, “indigenous leaders and elders accompanied her to the newly renovated National Museum of the Altai Republic in Gorno Altaisk, a state-of-the-art historical museum curated by indigenous elites celebrating Altaian culture and otherness vis-à-vis Russia.”

And indeed, Vyacheslav Molodin was right in saying that she was often used for pure hype. “Sometimes it is difficult to openly talk about politics, so we use her as a metaphor to discuss the difficult position of Altaians in Russia. Claiming her is claiming our land,” a local journalist and wife of a recently deceased indigenous leader-politician told Plets.

Nevertheless, the ‘Ice Maiden’ has returned to Altai. In the museum, she is placed in a special room in accordance with the beliefs of the indigenous Altai people, and is lying in a copy of a coffin she was originally found in. The visitors can see the ‘Maiden’ only on certain days of the year, because constant exposure can damage the remains. On other days, visitors can see the exact copy of the burial site that shows how the ‘Maiden’ could have looked when she just left this world for another one.

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Tracy Edwards and her 1990 Whitbread Round the World Race crew mark restoration of the Maiden

• Stef Bottinelli

Tracy Edwards and her 1990 crew reunited in London's St Katharine Docks to mark the restoration of their yacht Maiden and promote education for girls

28 June 2018

Tracy Edwards and her 1990 all female Whitbread Round the World Race crew, marked the full restoration of their yacht Maiden in London yesterday.

The yacht will set off for a three year project to promote girls’ education around the world and raise money to fund projects to empower young women.

Eight crew will be aboard Maiden when she sets off from Southampton to Jordan at the end of the year to promote The Maiden Factor Foundation, I am a Girl and The Girls’ Network. The project is supported by Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, who also helped restore the famous yacht.

The record breaking yacht, Maiden, is lowered into UK waters for after being found abandoned in the Seychelles

Before she starts her world tour, Maiden will be first unveiled at Cowes Week 2018 and then will  joining in the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race  .

Iconic yacht Maiden won two legs of the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1990 and came second overall – the best result for a British boat since 1977 and a record that has never been beaten.

The yacht was rotting away when Tracy Edwards decided to have her restored.

27 April 2017

Maiden – the yacht that made history with the first all-female crew to sail the Whitbread Round the World Race – has arrived home.

The iconic yacht, which was skippered during the 1989-90 race by Tracy Edwards, was transported from the Seychelles, where she had been discovered rotting away.

She has now been transferred to Hamble Yacht Services for a year-long refit. The boatyard did the original work on the yacht ahead of the Whitbread 27 years ago.

Once the work has been completed, Maiden will be unveiled at Cowes Week 2018 before joining in the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race which will bring together yachts and crew from previous editions of the Whitbread Round the World Race.

Maiden will then be used as part of a global campaign to give more girls around the world access to a basic education.

Maiden’s restoration and global campaign, The Maiden Factor, is being made possible by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan in memory of Her father, King Hussein I.

Maiden’s former crew gather to welcome her home. Credit: Rick Tomlinson

“My father, King Hussein I, would have been the first to offer his support and guidance to the new Maiden Project announced this week. I, as a young girl, fondly remember his ‘hands-on’ involvement with the original project which made sporting history, and surprisingly feel how the issues of female equality and values he championed all those years ago seem even more relevant today.”

“Having the intrepid Tracy Edwards MBE back at the helm is something I know my father would have been so happy to learn and he would have wanted me to be part of this project. As his daughter, I feel honored and humbled to be involved with the resurrection of the Maiden project as it embarks on its new chapter of maritime history,” continued the Princess.

“The knowledge that Maiden will once again travel the seas, means not only will the memory and legacy of my late father live on but we can all use this a platform to highlight the need of equal access to education for girls in all corners of the globe, referencing something that he always believed in: ‘anything is possible’.”

Tracy Edwards defied the critics and inspired a generation of women when Maiden came second overall in the 1989-90 race.

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Many believed it wasn’t possible for an all-female crew to take part in the Whitbread Round the World Race – one of the most gruelling tests of human endurance.

Maiden won two legs of the race and came second overall – the best result for a British boat since 1977 and a record that has never been beaten.

“It’s shocking to me that over 61 million girls around the world are still denied one of the most basic rights; access to education. The struggle to get Maiden to the start line represents the barriers faced by so many, whilst also proving to the world that girls can overcome them, and achieve great things,” commented Edwards.

“The crew of Maiden faced many obstacles and prejudices. Very few people believed an all-female crew could complete the race and not only did we prove everyone wrong, we won two legs and came second overall. Now we would like to do the same for women around the world, who are being denied an education and the opportunity to reach their full potential,” she continued.

“To have support from HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan in honour of Her father is incredibly special as I know that without HM King Hussein I, Maiden would not have happened,” added Edwards.

24 March 2017

Maiden, which carried the first all-female crew to ever sail around the world, across the finish line of the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race, is heading back to the UK on Sunday (26 March).

The 58-foot yacht has been languishing in the Seychelles, where the iconic vessel has been sadly neglected.

Now in a new cradle, Maiden is waiting for the arrival of the ship that will take her home.

Tracy Edwards sees Maiden for the first time in 27 years. Credit: The Maiden Factor

Once restored to her former glory, the yacht will be used to inspire women to take up sailing and challenge the perception of what women are capable of.

Maiden will become an “ambassador” for the not-for profit organisation, The Maiden Factor, which will work with charities such as I am Girl, Just a Drop, Girl Up and The Girl’s Network.

In 1990, a 27-year-old Edwards made the history books when her 12 crew on board Maiden defied the critics by winning two legs and finishing second in its class in the Whitbread Round the World Race (now Volvo Ocean Race).

This is the best performances in the race by a British boat since 1977.

Maiden and her all-female crew. Credit: PPL

According to The Maiden Factor blog, which keeps fans updated on the iconic yacht, Edwards had to remortgaged her house to buy Maiden for £110,000.

Called Prestige then, the former round the world competitor yacht was languishing in Cape Town’s commercial docks.

Edwards then had to re-mortgage Maiden to pay for the refit, and almost faced ruin until a former charter client, King Hussein of Jordan, stepped in to help.

Following the race, Maiden had to be sold to pay off debts, and went through a series of owners before being abandoned to rot in the Seychelles.

Edwards has spent three years raising funds to bring Maiden Home, and flew out in January to the Indian Ocean island to see the yacht again.

As recorded on the Maiden Factor blog, Edwards cried when she saw the battered yacht for the first time in 27 years.

“My poor baby, she’s such a mess,” she said.

“I had no idea she was in such bad shape. It is such a sad and gruesome sight. We have to get her home and fast.”

Just some of the work which needs to be done on Maiden. Credit: The Maiden Factor

“I’d heard she was in a poor state but not this bad,” she adds. “I’ve been raising funds to bring her home for the last three years but it stopped me almost dead when I saw her,” continued Edwards.

“There was a physical pain in my heart at the sight. I guess it must have been building up. I didn’t think it would be this emotional. I cried, tears of delight at seeing her after so long but also distress at what she has become,” explained the Whitbread skipper.

“The boat was the 13th member of the crew and she looked after us, made sure we got home safely so the bond is immense. She is like an old friend and it is distressing to see this neglect. When I first heard she’d been abandoned I was surprised how heartbroken I was. It was like losing a member of the family,” stated Edwards.

“But we can rebuild her. She is like me, a fighter and a survivor,” she added.

25 November 2016

Work to restore the iconic Whitbread Round the World yacht, Maiden, will begin in the coming months, with the vessel expected to sail into London in September.

The announcement from the Jordan Tourism Board comes following a renewed partnership between The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Maiden’s skipper, Tracy Edwards MBE.

In 1990, Edwards made the history books by leading the first all-female crew to the finish line of the Whitbread Round the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race) on board Maiden, which was sponsored by the Jordanian Royal family.

Her 12 crew on board Maiden defied the critics by winning two legs and finishing second in its class, the best performances in the race by a British boat since 1977.

The 58-foot yacht was recently discovered by Edwards falling into disrepair in the Indian Ocean.

Backed by the Jordan Tourism Board, and through a combination of crowdfunding and sponsorship, work to restore Maiden to its former glory is expected to begin shortly.

The yacht will then be used to carry on the legacy started in the 1980s by Edwards – to inspire women to take up sailing and challenge the perception of what women are capable of.

The yacht will sail the globe promoting the agenda of education for girls and raise funds for these associated charities as well as Maiden Education.

Tracy Edwards defied the critics when she entered an all-female crew in the 89-90 Whitbread Round the World Race

Commenting on the project, Edwards said: “Maiden is an inspiration and I want her to engage with people all over the world.”

“She is an icon of female empowerment, the ability and will to succeed against all odds and that’s something I want to harness and use to inspire young girls everywhere to achieve their full potential,” she stressed.

Filming has begun for a one off TV series which will follow the rescue and restoration of Maiden and also the selection and training of a new crew.

The original Maiden crew from 1989/90 will deliver the “grand dame of sailing” to London in September 2017 for her re-launch.

Celebrations will include sailing under Tower Bridge and handing Maiden over to her new crew.

Crew trials will test sailing skills on the water in the UK and in Jordan.

There is also filming already underway to accompany a documentary about Maiden’s completion of the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race which will be aired on prime-time television and have a premiere in Leicester Square in time for Maiden’s reveal in London in September 2017.

Following the London film premiere, Maiden will attend the start of the 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race in Alicante. The yacht will then sail to Jordan for the winter.

Edwards said she was delighted that the Kingdom of Jordan had, once again, shown their support for women and sailing.

“We must ensure that the basic human right of every girl is to have an education, a conviction shared by His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan, who was the first person help me on my initial quest to get an all-female crew to sail around the world,” she said.

“It would be an understatement to say that I was delighted that the Kingdom of Jordan under the reign of his son, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, has stepped in to help me on my new mission to inspire a whole new generation and make Maiden a vessel for peace and education across the world,” added Edwards, who is now a motivational speaker.

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The crew of Maiden makes history again by becoming the first all-female team to win a round the world yacht race

• Katy Stickland
• April 22, 2024

The former Whitbread yacht, sailed by an all-female international crew has taken the coveted title after 153d 2h 16m 53s of racing around the world. Virtually none of the crew had previously faced such an epic challenge and only one had sailed in the Southern Ocean before.

Maiden and her 12-strong crew after crossing the finish line of Leg 4 of the Ocean Globe Race. Credit: The Maiden Factor-Kaia Bint Savage Credit: The Maiden Factor-Kaia Bint Savage

Maiden and her crew are no strangers to smashing glass ceilings and sailing into the history books.

In the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race , Tracy Edwards skippered the 58ft yacht and, with her crew, became the first all-female team to take part in a round the world yacht race .

Maiden crossing the finish line at Southampton, marking the end of the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race. Credit: Andrew Sassoli-Walker

Maiden came second in class overall, winning two of the three Southern Ocean legs in Division D.

But now the Maiden crew has done one better and become the first all-female crew to win a round the world yacht race, having taken gold in the 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race .

The 2024 Maiden crew are all delighted and believe they have achieved their goal of showcasing what women can do and inspiring the next generation. Credit: Don McIntyre/ OGR2023

The retro race, which sees entrants racing four legs without modern technology on board and using celestial navigation , was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973.

Maiden was the only British yacht in the Ocean Globe Race and was skippered throughout by 27-year-old Heather Thomas, who stated from the start that the team was “in it to win it”; the crew comprised women from Britain, India, South Africa, the USA, France, Antigua, Italy, Puerto Rico and Afghanistan.

The multinational crew flew their home country flags. Credit: The Maiden Factor-Kaia Bint Savage

After crossing the Leg 4 finish line, Heather Thomas, who started crewing on Maiden in 2021, said: “We had an amazing welcome and had many boats come and join us out in the Solent to help us cross the finish line. It was phenomenal to have all of those boats and people come and see us!

“The first person we saw on a boat was Tracy, of course! That was fantastic and we’ve had a brilliant welcome back here on land too. Thank you everyone for your support!”

Maiden was one of 14 boats to take part in the race, and one of five in the Flyer Class for yachts previously entered in the 1973, 1977 or 1981 Whitbread, or ‘relevant’ historic significance and ‘approved’ production-built, ocean-certified, sail-training yachts generally 55ft to 68ft LOA.

Heather Thomas has been crewing on Maiden since 2021. At 27, she is the youngest female skipper to have won a round the world yacht race. Credit: The Maiden Factor-Kaia Bint Savage

Throughout the race, Maiden ‘s crew pushed hard, always in the top half of the fleet, coming third in line honours and IRC on the Cowes to Cape Town Leg, fourth in line honours and IRC in the Cape Town to Auckland Leg and second in line hours and fourth in IRC on the Auckland to Punta del Este Leg.

Ahead of the start of Leg 4, Maiden was seven days behind the then IRC leader, Triana .

But the French Swan 53’s lead was soon eroded due to the failure of the expected Southeast Trade Winds which led to slow progress for most of the Ocean Globe Race fleet up the Atlantic ; further fickle winds slowed Triana ‘s progress.

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Leg 4 was the longest at sea for the crew of Maiden – 41 days and 6,599 miles in total.

Having found breeze, Maiden made progress up the Atlantic until hitting the Doldrums. By then, the watermaker onboard the Bruce Farr-designed yacht had broken, and the rain was welcomed until the crew fixed it.

The crew also had to make repairs to the yacht’s generator and inverter.

Vuyisile Jacza and First Mate Rachel Burgess make repairs. Credit: OGR2023/ Maiden

Many entrants hoped that once in the Northern Hemisphere, the Northeat Trade winds would deliver, but this wasn’t the case and the boats continued to struggle in the light winds caused by a high pressure system, west of Biscay.

Eventually, Maiden found strong winds in the northerlies and crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line, Cowes at 10:52 UTC on 16 April.

“After 28,674 nautical miles and 154 days at sea, our girl Maiden is home with her inspirational all-female crew, including the first women of colour to race around the world and our camerawoman who escaped the Taliban in Afghanistan,” said Tracy Edwards.

A jubilant Tracy Edwards as Maiden crossed the finish line. Credit: The Maiden Factor-Kaia Bint Savage

“This truly international crew has changed the face of sailing and they stand for women and girls everywhere. They have made history and we could not be more proud of them!” she added.

Following the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race, Edwards was forced to sell Maiden . She later rescued the yacht from the Seychelles , where it was discovered, abandoned in 2014 .

Edwards decided to refit the boat and use it to promote the importance of education for girls around the world.

Sailing under The Maiden Factor banner, Maiden left the UK on an 18-month world tour to raise awareness of the importance of education for girls and raise money for girls’ education programmes before taking part in the Ocean Globe Race.

IRC results overall in the 2023-2024 Ocean Globe Race

Maiden (UK) – 179d, 1h, 24, 23s Spirit of Helsinki (Finland) – 179d, 18h, 32m, 45s Triana (France) – Pen Duick (France) – 180d, 20h, 33m, 1s L’Esprit d’Equipe (France) – 185d, 12h, 2m, 3s Neptune (France) – 186d, 10h, 59m, 22s Outlaw (Australia) – 187d, 8h, 35m, 8s Galiana WithSecure (Finland) – Still racing Evrika (France) – Still racing White Shadow (Spain) – Still racing

Translated 9 (Italy) Sterna (South Africa) Explorer (Australia) Godspeed (USA)

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Hudson Club Remakes Huge Ice Yacht

By Woody N. Klose

• Jan. 28, 1973

Franklin Delano Roosevelt loved the Hudson River and its 306‐mile‐long valley. He probably loved it as much in the softness of spring as he did through the green of summer and into the paintbrush hues of fall. As much or possibly more, F.D.R. loved the valley and its river in winter, when the Hudson lay beneath thick layers of black ice. President Roosevelt loved river ice, too, for he was an ice‐yachtsman.

It is because of F.D.R.'s abiding love for the river and its winter ice that a slice of Hudson Valley history could be reconstructed last year in an 80‐foot‐long basement in a house high on a bill overlooking Newburgh.

There, in the house of contractor, Robert R. Lawrence, a band of devoted valley men reconstructed the legendary gaff‐rigged ice yacht Jack Frost. Had it not been for Roosevelt, the Jack Frost would long ago have become just another part of the rich valley earth.

Commodore Archibald Rogers of Hyde Park owned the original Jack Frost, an iceboat of staggering dimensions. Built in 1883, the original Jack Frost carried 760 square feet of sail and measured 49½ feet from bow to stern along the backbone.

In 1938 when the boathouse in which the Jack Frost was stored was destroyed by a hurricane, Roosevelt, concerned about the future of iceboating, gave the huge boat to Richard Aldrich of Barrytown. Aldrich had done much to keep alive the spirit of iceboating and, in the process, had amassed a sizable collection of antique ice yachts of Hudson River design, with the steering runner in the stern.

Unfortunately, the original backbone, cockpit and runnerplank of the Jack Frost had been left in the open, near the remains of the boathouse, where they disintegrated and disappeared. But the hollow spars and much of the hardware were saved, and using dimensions on file in the archives of the Roosevelt Library, the Jack Frost was born again.

Under the supervision of Ray Ruge, a foremost iceyacht expert, and Lawrence, the Jack. Frost was reconstructed, incorporating the pieces of the original boat. However, the craftsmen did not reconsrtuct the original Jack Frost, designed and built in 1883 but refashioned the one of 1900, a slightly different model.

As was the custom then, during all the modifications she never lost her name. While the owner might have a new backbone constructed or alter the size of sails or runners, he would not change the name of his prize boat. So the name, Jack Frost, was transferred from boat to boat over two decades and down through half a century as the ice‐yacht was created, modified, almost destroyed and eventually reconstructed.

It was a problem, locating and buying timbers large enough to reconstruct her. The Hudson River Ice Yacht Club procured 10 pieces of Sitka spruce from the West Coast. Sitka spruce grows only in Alaska and British Columbia and is especially prized for its uniform character and long, straight grain. The club paid $1,000 for this valuable wood.

The racing history of the Jack Frost is as unusual as the craft itself. Sailing for the Poughkeepsie Ice Yacht Club in 1883, her maiden year, she won the Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant of America, beating sailors and boats from North Shrewsbury, N.J. She won again in 1887, under the colors of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club.

In '93, she took on the Orange Lake Ice Yacht Club for the pennant, and the result was the same. There were two races for the pennant in 1902 and Jack Frost sailed home with the trophy both tithes.

Since then, the race for the challenge pennant and even the Jack Frost have almost become forgotten. They began to be “things that can wait till next year.” By World War I, ice yachting on the Hudson had all but vanished.

Thanks to the leadership of Ruge, Lawrence, Aldrich's son, Ricky, and many others, iceboating on the Hudson River is coming back strong.

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Watch: 90m Lürssen superyacht Ice collides into 31m Numarine yacht in Turkey

The 90.1-metre Lürssen superyacht Ice has collided with the 31.1-metre Numarine yacht A.Mey in Yalıkavak, Turkey.

Dramatic footage taken of the incident shows Ice 's bow strike A.Mey with enough force to turn the yacht. The extent of damage is unknown but A.Mey 's aft section appears to be badly damaged. The yacht was anchored when the collision took place, with 12 people on board at the time. No injuries have been reported.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin Koenig (@theyachtfella)

Ice was delivered by the German shipyard in 2005 to a design by Tim Heywood . According to BOATPro , she was most recently listed for sale in 2023. Her last known asking price of €100,000,000 made her one of the most expensive yachts for sale at the time, with highlights that include a large helipad and five bathtubs carved from solid limestone. She won Motor Yacht of the Year at the 2006 World Superyacht Awards .

Delivered in 2007, A.Mey belongs to Numarine's 102 RPH series with exterior design owed to Tommaso Spadolini .

BOAT International will update the story as it develops.

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5134 Salmon Drive Se #A,  Saint Petersburg, FL 33705

Michael Wyckoff

Ineta Kalnina

Engel & Volkers Madeira Beach

Last updated:

September 3, 2024, 03:31 PM

About This Home

Includes deeded boat slip with lift! Nestled within the serene Waterside at Coquina Key, this meticulously updated residence offers the perfect blend of island tranquility and urban convenience. Enjoy the luxury of a separately deeded 13,000 lbs BOAT LIFT just outside your door, allowing you to fully embrace the coastal lifestyle. This waterfront oasis boasts unparalleled views and access to 3 miles of seawall and walking paths on 88 acres of lush, landscaped grounds. This open-concept 1st floor condo features 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with an oversized patio and covered side porch to maximize outdoor living. Recent renovations have enhanced both the exterior and interior, including new Roof and HVAC system, electric panel, impact windows, sleek stainless steel appliances, and more. Residents of Waterside at Coquina Key indulge in resort-style amenities. Enjoy cocktails and dinner at the exclusive, private two-story Waterside Yacht Club, which offers full liquor sports bar, nightly specials in the restaurant and gorgeous water views. The community also features two pools, one of which is right on the bay with a hot tub. The clubhouse also offers fully equipped fitness center open 24/7, business center, billiards room, library/game room, vending machines, ice machine and laundry facilities. This private yacht club may be booked for private events. Relax and do some fishing from the Fishing Pier, play tennis under the lights, or opt for Pickleball, basketball, sand volleyball, horseshoes, or shuffleboard. Or take a stroll with your pooch at the on-site dog park with walking paths. Bicycle and Kayak racks are available to rent. Golf cart friendly community. Waterside South is a short commute from the bustling downtown and waterfront area of St Petersburg with its boutique shopping, dining, numerous museums, and many entertainment venues. Short drive to Fort DeSoto and the beautiful sands of St Petersburg Beach. Easy commute to Tampa and Tampa International Airport to the north and the iconic Skyway Bridge and Sarasota/Bradenton area to the south. Discover the epitome of care-free waterfront living at Waterside at Coquina Key, where every day brings the allure of island living within reach of vibrant urban amenities.

Built in 1979

Price Summary

$510 per Sq. Ft.

Last Updated:

13 day(s) ago

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1,018 Sq. Ft.

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