Port St Mary grandmother, 70, to sail 2,700 nautical miles across the Atlantic

A Port St Mary grandmother who took up sailing only seven years ago is preparing to cross the Atlantic as one of a crew of seven, Isle of Man Today reported.

Karen Leiserach, a former NHS manager, will sail 2,700 nautical miles from Las Palmas to St Lucia in the ARC Rally. According to the newspaper, the rally is due to leave Las Palmas on 22 November, and the crew hope to reach St Lucia around 20 December, depending on the weather.

Leiserach, who turned 70 this year, is membership secretary of Sailing for the Disabled Isle of Man and hopes the voyage will raise money for the charity. “My personal mission is to promote living life after 70,” she said, according to Isle of Man Today.

She had no sailing experience before 2019, when a taster session with the charity prompted her to take it up. In the years since, she has trained at sailing schools in Scotland and Croatia and earned Royal Yachting Association qualifications, the newspaper reported. She still works two days a week.

The charity has more than 200 members and helps disabled people and volunteers learn to sail. Its 48ft yacht, Pride of Mann III, is based at Douglas Marina.

During the crossing, Leiserach will be backed by her instructor and a shore-based team in Douglas. She intends to speak to them every day about changes in the weather and any alterations to the route. Her costs have been met by a donor, the newspaper said.