Women share views on future of sailing

World-class women sailors from the world’s toughest races share their views on the future of sailing, gender equality, and balancing motherhood with a sports career. Story by Heather Prentice for Yachting Monthly.

Six of the world’s most accomplished women sailors recently raced solo around the world on giant, 60ft foiling IMOCA monohulls in the Vendée Globe, hitting speeds of up to 40 knots, shattering records and stamping their mark on the sport.

Justine Mettraux was the first woman to cross the line, finishing eighth out of 40 competitors, closely followed by Clarisse Crémer (11th) and Samantha Davies (13th). Mettraux is now the fastest ever female solo monohull sailor around the world and her record 76-day circumnavigation beat the previous record by 12 days.

The world of offshore sailing has traditionally been a male-dominated arena, but with only six women in a field of 40, we must ask, are the barriers to women’s participation in elite sailing still too high? How can we support women and girls in club sailing to take it up as a career? – Full report