At age 29, Natasha Lambert became one of the few sailors with cerebral palsy to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean, using a breath-controlled sailing system designed specifically for her needs. Born with cerebral palsy, Lambert cannot use her arms or legs and faces challenges with speech. However, she has retained strong breath control, which her father, Gary — an electrician and inventor — leveraged to develop a custom “sip-and-puff” system that enables her to skipper and steer a sailboat independently.

The system works through a small tube held securely in her mouth by a modified helmet. Inhaling (“sipping”) directs the boat to turn right, exhaling (“puffing”) turns it left, and a tongue-operated LED light beam inside the straw controls the sails. The technology evolved from simulations on model boats to full-sized vessels, allowing Lambert to take active control rather than being a passive passenger.

Growing up on the Isle of Wight near Cowes, Natasha’s family fostered a “can-do” attitude, refusing to accept limitations imposed by her disability. At age 11, she sailed across the Solent Strait by herself, demonstrating remarkable skill and determination. Her sister, Rachel, says that society often confuses physical disability with intellectual impairment, but Natasha’s achievements dispel such misconceptions.

Starting with charity events, Lambert sailed her boat, Miss Isle Too, around the Isle of Wight in 2012, raising more than £17,000 for causes including the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, the RNLI, and Scope. She went on to complete a solo crossing of the English Channel from Boulogne to Dover in 2013 and subsequently sailed sections of the south coast of Britain to Wales. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was named Young Sailor of the Year and awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015.

That same year, Natasha and her family founded the Miss Isle School of Sip and Puff Sailing, a charity based in Cowes that uses the breath-control technology to teach people with severe physical disabilities how to sail independently.

Lambert’s Atlantic crossing took place in November 2020 aboard a 46-foot catamaran named Blown Away, selected for its stability and space to accommodate Natasha’s wheelchair and the necessary adaptations. The family spent two years modifying the vessel, enlarging doorways and installing tracks and slings to assist movement in rough seas, as well as integrating the sip-and-puff technology. The crossing began in Gran Canaria and ended in Saint Lucia after 18 days, 21 hours, and 39 minutes, covering approximately 3,000 miles. The journey, part of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers with over 50 participating crews, saw Lambert finish 28th and safely navigate through a severe storm midway.

Natasha’s determination inspired by fellow Isle of Wight sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur, who encouraged her to “go for the next one.” Following the Atlantic crossing, Natasha expressed a desire to tackle the Pacific Ocean.

This year, the family faced tragedy when Natasha and Rachel’s mother, Mandy, died from cancer. Despite this loss, Lambert’s family plans to sail across the Atlantic again in Mandy’s memory this November. The upcoming voyage aims to raise £30,000 for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, RNLI where Rachel volunteers, and the Calvert Lakes activity center, where Natasha first learned to sail.

For Natasha Lambert, sailing represents more than a sport—it is a source of freedom and independence. “I don’t have a disability on the water. I feel free,” she said. Her sister Rachel reflects the family’s pride, describing Natasha’s dream as “the catalyst to everything we do.”