About Lia

A Professional Sailor & Writer

Lia Ditton, 36, has more than 150,000 nautical miles of experience — the equivalent of roughly eight laps of the globe — and has competed at a high level in some of the world’s most challenging ocean races.

Lia is a professional sailor and writer, passionate about sharing her extraordinary experiences at sea by translating them into contemporary art installations.

Lia is the 53rd woman to row the Atlantic and the 64th woman to row any ocean.

Lia Ditton has spent much of her life forging a unique path across the world's most unforgiving oceans. With over 150,000 nautical miles of experience, she has competed in demanding single-handed races and completed challenging transoceanic crossings that test both physical endurance and mental fortitude. Her journey from professional sailor to ocean rower reflects a deep commitment to pushing human limits. As the 53rd woman to row the Atlantic and the 64th woman to row any ocean, Lia belongs to a small and remarkable community of female adventurers who have taken on the immense challenge of crossing vast seas under their own power.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Lia is a writer and artist who translates her extraordinary experiences at sea into contemporary art installations. She believes that the stories carried across the waves deserve to be shared in creative and meaningful ways, connecting audiences on land with the raw reality of life on the open ocean. Her work captures the solitude, the beauty, and the intensity of rowing alone for weeks on end. Through her art, she invites others to glimpse a world that few will ever experience firsthand, turning personal endurance into a shared narrative of human resilience.

Lia's Pacific Solo 2018 expedition represents one of her most ambitious undertakings yet: a solo row across the Pacific Ocean aimed at a world record attempt. This journey required months of intense preparation on land, including grueling training regimens and meticulous planning for every possible contingency at sea. The expedition carried a message of determination and possibility, encapsulated in the belief that if Lia can do it, others can find their own courage too. Her story continues to inspire those who follow her progress, proving that the boundaries of human achievement are made to be tested and redrawn.