IN THE MEdia
LIZ WARDLEY IN THE Media
Andrew Breen and I won the World’s Toughest Row Pacific 2026, completing the 2,800 mile crossing from Monterey, California, to Hanalei Bay, Hawaii. We finished in 35 days, 8 hours and 25 minutes, setting a new world record as the fastest pair ever to row the Mid-Pacific. We also became the first team in the event’s history to lift two trophies, and I became the first woman to have her name engraved on the overall winner’s trophy, something I’m incredibly proud of.
Rowed Land's End to Scotland with team ROW4MND, battling Storm Floris and 900 miles of coastline to raise funds for MND research. Part of a four-year challenge targeting £5.7 million for a cure.
Sailed the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships with Lincoln Dews, qualifying second from Cowes in a brutal 24 hour race. A remarkable return to offshore sailing after two years away focused on ocean rowing.
Competed in the World's Toughest Row Pacific Challenge with 17-year-old Lena Kerbial, rowing Monterey to Hawaii in 37 days and becoming the first person to complete the Atlantic and Pacific back-to-back.
Rowed 3,000 miles solo across the Atlantic in the World's Toughest Row, finishing in 44 days 4 hours and smashing the female solo race record by 15 days. Capsized 36 hours from the finish line but kept going.
Won the Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup with WindWhisper Racing Team as Boat Captain, winning all legs of the Sprint Cup. My fourth participation in the race.
Skippered the iconic yacht Maiden for part of her global tour from 2019 to 2023, delivering the Maiden Factor Foundation's message for girls' education to ports across the world.
Raced the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race as Boat Captain and Watch Captain on Turn the Tide on Plastic, a mixed crew campaign raising global awareness of ocean plastic pollution. My third round the world race.
Raced the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race with Team SCA, the first all-female crew to compete in the race since 2002. My second round the world race.
The race that could have been the beginning or the end of a career in offshore sailing and ocean adventure. I believe it helped define me as a seaman, being exposed to such large scale disaster, danger and chaos at 19 years old was a hard thing to cope with, but the comradery and leadership it exposed me to where valuable lessons I never forget.
Book Me for Speaking & Media
I’m open to selected media appearances, interviews, podcasts, panels and speaking events that align with my story and values. Whether you’re looking for an honest conversation about life at sea, ocean rowing, resilience, leadership, or creating opportunities in unexpected places, I bring real experience rather than a polished corporate script.
TESTIMONIALS
-
Tracy Edwards, MBE. British sailor who made history by skippering the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race aboard Maiden
“Liz was Guest Skipper on Maiden twice during her World Tour 2018 to 2024, as we invited female legends to lead the crew for a few months at a time. I knew Liz by reputation obviously and so was not surprised that she was a fantastic addition to our team. Not only does Liz has phenomenal skills, experience and expertise but she is a natural leader and was an inspiration to the young women in the Maiden crew. Liz has boundless energy, endless enthusiasm for the task in hand and is not afraid to get down and dirty when needed! The feedback from the crew was that Liz had shown them what was possible for them to achieve and she played a significant role in preparing Heather Thomas to Skipper Maiden to victory in the OGR. Liz will always be an important part of Maiden’s story, and I am so glad she found the time to spend with us. We watch for her next adventure with anticipation!”
-
Carsten Heron Olsen, Race director and CEO - The World’s Toughest Row.
"Liz Wardley is one of the most competent ocean athletes I’ve had the privilege of working with. Very few people prove themselves across both the Atlantic and Pacific, and Liz has done so at the highest level; from a record-breaking solo Atlantic crossing to an incredible Pacific campaign as part of a pair and now preparing to take on the Pacific once again. What sets her apart is her mindset: calm under pressure, highly experienced, and relentlessly determined. She consistently makes good decisions when it matters most, which is ultimately what defines success in ocean rowing. As both a competitor and a person, Liz brings professionalism, resilience, and a quiet strength that elevates any team or challenge she takes on."
-
Lisa Mcdonald, Skipper - ‘Amer Sports 2’ all-female team Volvo Ocean Race
“Living life to the fullest and always going the extra mile, Liz is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. I’ve known her for over 25 years, and she never ceases to amaze me with her incredible projects and achievements. One week she’s sailing IMOCA class yachts - the cutting-edge flying yachts pushing the boundaries of technology in the racing world - and the next she’s setting off across an ocean in a rowing boat! Liz is a true inspiration when it comes to pushing boundaries, breaking glass ceilings, and achieving personal goals. She throws herself into every challenge with confidence, determination, and enthusiasm. What’s next, Liz? Whatever it is, I’ll be following and cheering you on!”