Liz Wardley
Sailor, Ocean Rower, Speaker
30 Years Racing the World's Oceans
Whether you're looking for a boat captain with deep technical expertise, a speaker who can share honest stories about resilience and creating opportunities, or weather routing support for your ocean rowing team, I bring 30 years of hard-earned experience from the world's oceans.
I've worked my way up from cleaning bilges to competing in round-the-world races. I've survived one of sailing's worst disasters and, more recently, broke the female solo Atlantic rowing race record.
But what I'm most proud of is showing up, doing the work, and helping others achieve their goals, whether that's keeping a racing yacht competitive or sharing lessons learned from thousands of hours at sea.
If you're looking for someone who understands what it takes to push through challenges and deliver results, let's talk
My Services
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Professional Sailing
If you need a boat captain who can manage both the technical preparation and the racing, I specialise in boat maintenance, hydraulics, and keeping vessels race-ready while competing at the highest level. With 26 years of experience across four round-the-world races and nearly a million nautical miles I have seen my fair share of ups and downs. I have spent most of my career as a boat captain, maintaining and keeping vessels race-ready while competing at the highest level.
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Ocean Rowing
Whether you're planning an ocean row and need weather routing support, or you're looking for a speaker who can share what it's really like to row solo across oceans, I've been there. Record-breaking Atlantic crossing, back-to-back Pacific rows, and the most remote challenges imaginable.
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Speaking
If your audience values authenticity over polish and wants to hear real stories about mental resilience, creating opportunities, and pushing through fear, I'd love to speak at your event. Available for corporate talks, schools, podcasts, and media features.
Current
Projects
Pacific Row 2026
Just finished row across the Mid Pacific as part of the World's Toughest Row.
Weather Routing
Supporting ocean rowing teams with route planning and weather analysis for major races and independent record attempts
Speaking & Mentoring
Sharing honest lessons with audiences who want practical insights on persistence and resilience.
Sailing
Competing in The Ocean Race Atlantic aboard Team Oliver Heer Ocean Racing, September 2026
“Every opportunity I've had came from showing up and being willing to start at the bottom”
ABOUT LIZ
I left home at 16 and worked my way onto racing yachts by showing up every single day. Every opportunity I've had came from being willing to start at the bottom and do whatever work was needed.
I've survived catastrophic disasters, broken records, and spent more than half my life at sea. What drives me is the challenge itself and the opportunity to share what I've learned with others who are creating their own path.
TESTIMONIALS
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![Carsten Heron Olsen, Race Director and CEO of The World’s Toughest Row.]()
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."
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![Tracy Edwards MBE, British sailor and skipper of the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.]()
Tracy Edwards, MBE, is a 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!”
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