Liz Wardley

Liz Wardley (born 6 December 1979) is a Papua New Guinean and Australian sailor.^[1][2] 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.

Liz Wardley

Liz Wardley in June 2016
Personal information
Nationality	Papua New Guinea  Australia
Born	(1979-12-06) 6 December 1979 (age 45) Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
Medal record Hobie 16 World Championship Representing  Papua New Guinea 1997 Sotogrande Event Representing  Australia 1998 Airlie Beach Event
Updated on 2023-07-18

Biography

Wardley started her sailing career by racing in the Hobie 16 category, winning a bronze medal at the 1997 World Championship in Sotogrande^[3] and a silver medal at the 1998 World Championship in Airlie Beach.^[4]

In 1998 she became the youngest female skipper to take part in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race onboard Dixie Chicken.^[5] In 1999 she won the race in the PHS Div 2 class onboard Phillip's Foote^[6][7]

Wardley competed in 4 editions of the Volvo Ocean Race. In 2001-2002 she was part of the all-female crew of Amer Sports Too.^[8] In 2014-2015 she was again part of an all-female crew onboard Team SCA.^[9] In 2017-2018 she was part of the Turn the Tide on Plastic crew.^[10] In 2023 she won as part of the VO65 crew of WindWhisper Racing Team.^[11]

In 2009 she won the Fastnet Race onboard the Class40 Initiatives Saveurs – Novedia Group with skipper Tanguy de Lamotte.^[12]

Personal life

She lives in La Forêt-Fouesnant in Finistère, France, and has also lived in Sydney, Australia.^{[citation needed]}

Honours

She was named the Papua New Guinean Sportswomen of the Year in 1999 and 2000.^[13][2]

• 1998 : 2nd in the Hobie Cat World Championships
• 1999 : 1st in the Australian National Championships – 1st in the Sydney-Hobart PHS Div 2, on Elliot 36 ft Phillip’s Foote^[6]
• 2001-2002 : Amer Sports Too Volvo Ocean Race
• 2002 : 2nd in the Overhand Open
• 2004 : 50th in the Solitaire du Figaro – 24th in the Generali Solo
• 2005 : 25th in the Solitaire du Figaro
• 2006 : 24th in the Solitaire du Figaro – 20th in the Transat AG2R – 17th in the Solitaire de la Méditerranée
• 2007 : 4th in the BPE Trophy 8th French long course Championships