Model diagnosed with cancer six weeks ago to race in Sydney to Hobart

Glamorous model diagnosed with breast cancer six weeks ago defies all odds as she competes in the gruelling Sydney to Hobart yacht race

• Lisa Seiffert, 36, was diagnosed with breast cancer on November 10
• She had successful surgery and is in the middle of radiotherapy 
• Set to take off alongside her father Adrian on the 80-foot Stefan Racing at 1pm 

An Australian model who fought through a cancer diagnosis, radiotherapy and surgery all within six weeks is embarking on one of the world’s toughest yacht races.

Lisa Seiffert, 36, was diagnosed with breast cancer on November 10 just months after she set sail on her first competitive race.

Set 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 tumour before it reached her lymph nodes.

She underwent bouts of radiotherapy with more sessions to come in the future with her medical struggles helping prepare her for the gruelling race. 

Lisa Seiffert (pictured), was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks ago on November 10 and will compete in the gruelling Sydney to Hobart

‘I’m officially cancer-free,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald. 

‘I’m more up for the challenge than ever after what I’ve just been through. If I can handle that, beat [cancer], then I’m solid.’ 

Ms Seiffert’s modelling career took off when she was in her teens, where she featured on numerous magazine covers across the world.

She also dated Robbie Williams after appearing in the English rock star’s ‘Eternity’ music video as an 18-year-old.

Lisa will control the hydraulics of the 80-foot Stefan Racing (pictured) alongside her father, Adrian Seiffert, who’s hoping to improve on last year’s fourth place

Ms Seiffert’s debut race was in the Brisbane to Hamilton Island in August, finishing 11th on the same boat she will be taking off in on Monday.

After training for weeks alongside the crew, Ms Seiffert landed a role controlling the boat’s hydraulics for the Sydney to Hobart.

‘I’ve only been sailing with him since July and I’ve clocked nearly 1000 racing miles with him,’ she said.

The two Seiffert’s first competed together in the Brisbane to Hamilton Island race in August this year coming 11th, the pair bonded through months of training after their debut race

‘There’s no other better bonding than being stuck on the boat in the middle of the ocean and chaos with your dad.

‘But this is going to be the ultimate experience, and it’s something that I’ll remember forever.’

The 2023 Sydney to Hobart race has record-breaking potential, with northeasterly winds predicted for the first half of the race playing into the hands of the 100-foot supermaxi yachts.

Strong north-easterly winds will play into the hands of the over 100 foot supermaxi yachts who could potentially make it to Hobart before headwinds hit the fleet on Wednesday

The larger boats in the 109-strong fleet, Andoo Comanche, Black Jack, Wild Oats and LawConnect, are expected to easily make it to Hobart without facing headwinds. that are predicted to hit on Wednesday.

Favourable weather could see the record set by Comanche in 2017 of one day, nine hours, 15minutes and 24seconds challenged by the supermaxis.

Smaller participants such as Seiffert’s Stefan Racing are expected to be caught up in the weather change as they approach the Bass Strait, the toughest stretch of the race.

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