Fischer Panda UK powers Natasha Lambert’s Atlantic dream

Fischer Panda UK is powering the dreams of young disabled sailor Natasha Lambert in her attempt to become the first person to sail across the Atlantic by breath control.

Providing vital systems for Natasha’s 46ft catamaran ‘Blown Away’, the Verwood-based company has donated a Panda PMS 9000 ND generator and supplied a watermaker and air-conditioning system. The equipment has been installed on the yacht as it undergoes special adaptation by Wight Shipyard, Isle of Wight, ready to sail across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers 2019 (ARC) starting in November this year. The catamaran will be the largest boat to be converted to breath control.

Natasha, 21, who has quadriplegic athetoid cerebral palsy, sails using breath control, a specially adapted system developed by her father, Gary, using open source software. The sip-puff system utilises a single straw that enables Natasha to control both the steering or helm, and the sails.

The Fischer Panda generator will power the watermaker and air-conditioning, as well as the electrics, electric winches and other equipment, during the three-week crossing from the Canaries to St Lucia in the Caribbean.

Natasha says: “Thank you so much for your help to make my dream of sailing an ocean possible – I can’t wait to sail across the Atlantic.”

Gary Lambert adds: “The Fischer Panda donation will make blue water sailing a reality. This has been a huge project for us to take on, the cost of which is phenomenal, so to receive this major piece of equipment is a real boost. Natasha has taken on many challenges in the past, but this will be her biggest challenge yet!”

The 7.5kW/9kVA Panda PMS 9000 ND generator offers the advantages of the classic asynchronous generator, delivering a high degree of safety and reliability. Compact and lightweight, the unit is encased in a super-silent sound insultation system to ensure quiet operation.

As complete systems suppliers, Fischer Panda was also able to supply reverse cycle units to provide extensive air-conditioning throughout Natasha’s yacht, with a 12,000 BTU unit for the port hull, two 6,000 BTU units for the starboard forward and aft cabins, and two 16,000 BTU units to cool the saloon.

Providing safe drinking water to avoid the need to store large quantities on-board ‘Blown Away’, the Fischer Panda UK watermaker produces 70 litres per hour and is very easy to use and maintain with quiet, smooth operation.

Natasha is raising awareness of disabled sailing, and just what is possible with teamwork. She will be fundraising for three water-based charities – the RNLI, The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and the MissIsle School of Sip-puff Sailing. For more information, visit www.missisle.com which includes links to social media for updates.

Celebrating 25 years in business in 2019, Fischer Panda UK offers full-system capability, servicing and aftercare, supplying marine generators, electric propulsion, air-conditioning, watermakers, and power monitoring and control solutions. The company supplies an extensive range of compact diesel generators including its next generation highly efficient and powerful variable speed iSeries-Generators.

Fischer Panda will be at Crick Boat Show, Seawork International and Southampton Boat Show. For more information about Fischer Panda UK’s range of products, go to www.fischerpanda.co.uk.