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The glamorous model diagnosed with breast cancer six weeks ago defies all odds as she competes in the grueling Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
- Lisa Seiffert, 36, was diagnosed with breast cancer on November 10.
- He had a successful surgery and is in the middle of radiation therapy.
- Ready to take off with his father Adrian in the 80ft Stefan Racing at 1pm
An Australian model who battled a cancer diagnosis, radiation therapy and surgery in six weeks embarks on one of the toughest yacht races in the world.
Lisa Seiffert, 36, was diagnosed with breast cancer on November 10, just months after setting sail in her first competitive race.
Scheduled to take off at 1pm AEDT on Boxing Day, she will compete on the 80-foot Stefan Racing yacht alongside her father and the boat’s co-owner Adrian Seiffert, with the team hoping to improve on last year’s fourth place.
Ms. Seiffert was officially declared cancer-free three weeks ago after doctors successfully removed the tumor before it reached her lymph nodes.
She underwent bouts of radiation therapy with more sessions to come in the future with her medical struggles helping her prepare for the grueling race.
Lisa Seiffert (pictured), was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks ago on November 10 and will compete in the grueling Sydney to Hobart
“I am officially cancer free,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
I am more up for the challenge than ever after what I just went through. If I can handle that, beat [cancer]So I’m solid.
Ms. Seiffert’s modeling career took off as a teenager, where she appeared on numerous magazine covers around the world.
She also dated Robbie Williams after appearing in the English rock star’s ‘Eternity’ music video when she was 18 years old.
Lisa will control the hydraulics of the Stefan Racing 80-footer (pictured) alongside her father, Adrian Seiffert, who is hoping to improve on last year’s fourth place.
Ms Seiffert’s debut race was in Brisbane to Hamilton Island in August, finishing 11th in the same boat she will take off on Monday.
After weeks of training alongside the crew, Ms. Seiffert secured a checkpoint on the ship’s hydraulics for the journey from Sydney to Hobart.
“I’ve only been sailing with it since July and have put almost 1000 race miles on it,” he said.
The two Seifferts first competed together in the Brisbane to Hamilton Island race on August 11 this year, the pair bonding through months of training after their debut race.
“There’s no better bond than being stuck on the boat in the middle of the ocean and chaos with your dad.”
“But this is going to be the best experience, and it’s something I’ll remember forever.”
The 2023 Sydney to Hobart race has record potential, with north-easterly winds forecast for the first half of the race, favoring 100ft supermaxi yachts.
Strong north-easterly winds will play in the favor of supermaxi yachts over 100ft which could reach Hobart before headwinds hit the fleet on Wednesday.
The largest ships in the fleet of 109, Andoo Comanche, Black Jack, Wild Oats and LawConnect, are expected to easily reach Hobart without facing headwinds. They are expected to arrive on Wednesday.
Favorable weather could see the record set by Comanche in 2017 of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds challenged by the supermaxis.
Smaller entrants such as Seiffert’s Stefan Racing are expected to be affected by the change in weather as they approach Bass Strait, the most difficult leg of the race.