Liz Wardley


Liz Wardley is a Papua New Guinean and Australian sailor. She has competed under both nationalities. Wardley started by racing in the Hobie 16 class and is now known as an experienced crew sailor, having taken part in 4 editions of The Ocean Race.

Biography

Wardley started her sailing career by racing in the Hobie 16 category, winning a bronze medal at the 1997 World Championship in Sotogrande and a silver medal at the 1998 World Championship in Airlie Beach.
In 1998 she became the youngest female skipper to take part in the 1998 [Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race] onboard Dixie Chicken. In 1999 she won the race in the PHS Div 2 class onboard Phillip's Foote
Wardley competed in 4 editions of the Volvo Ocean Race. In 2001–2002 [Volvo Ocean Race|2001-2002] she was part of the all-female crew of Amer [Sports Too]. In 2014-2015 she was again part of an all-female crew onboard Team SCA. In 2017-2018 she was part of the Turn the Tide on Plastic crew. In 2023 [The Ocean Race|2023] she won as part of the VO65 crew of WindWhisper Racing Team.
In 2009 she won the Fastnet Race onboard the Class40 Initiatives Saveurs – Novedia Group with skipper Tanguy de Lamotte.
In 2024 she won the women's solo division of the World's Toughest Row, taking fifteen days off the previous record.

Personal life

She lives in La Forêt-Fouesnant in Finistère, France, and has also lived in Sydney, Australia.

Honours

She was named the Papua New Guinean Sportswomen of the Year in 1999 and 2000.