AN Isle of Wight teenager is set to cross the Channel on a boat – controlled by her mouth.

Natasha Lambert was born with atheroid cerebral palsy, which affects her limbs as well as her speech and confines her to a wheelchair.

But on Monday the teenager from West Cowes is leaving her wheelchair behind to sail across the Channel in her 21 foot mini transit, Miss Isle Too, to mark her 16th birthday, which she celebrates today.

Natasha will be raising money for the RNLI, the Ellen MacArt h u r Cancer Trust a n d Wetwheels Solent.

She hopes the 25 mile v o y a g e , which starts in Boulogne, France, and finishes in Dover, will take her around seven hours.

Without the use of her hands she sails the yacht with her mouth using a ‘sip and puff’ system – operated by a straw inside a mountain bike helmet – which has been engineered by her father.

“Natasha can’t walk across the room unaided and yet on Monday she will be sailing from one country to another,” said her mother, Amanda.

“When she is sailing Natasha is able to experience freedom and excitement and, most importantly, make decisions, which she is unable to do in her everyday life.”

Natasha said: “I’m very excited, but now it’s getting nearer I’m a bit nervous, too, especially because there might be people watching!”

Daily Echo:

Last year Natasha sailed solo around the Isle of Wight, raising over £17,000 for charity.

She has been out on the water training hard for the past few months with her coach Phil, who will be joining her onboard for the voyage.

Southamptonbased sailor Geoff Holt MBE, the first quadriplegic yachtsman to sail solo around Great Britain, will be sailing behind her during her challenge in a show of support.

Gary Lambert, Natasha’s father, will be sailing her safety boat.

In order to allow Natasha to sail for herself, Gary, an electrician, learnt computer coding and made a system for her to be able to control a boat by a single straw.

“Off I went sailing... I had control! I could helm
myself !” said Natasha.
“It was fab controlling the
helm but I wanted to control
the sails, too. I now have full
control, helm and sails,
yippee I’m free!”
Her father added: “I am
immensely proud of Tasha.
Every time she goes out on
the water I’m proud of her.
She surprises me every time
she gets to another milestone.
I’m proud of her
determination, her skill and
her courage”