Talent, yes! But lack of structures.

What structures help women succeed in offshore sailing? Jaqueline Grawe with The Magenta Project has the answer.

You know the boat. You know how to handle it. You’ve trained for years. But when you step on board, it still doesn’t feel quite right. It’s the environment—it wasn’t designed with you in mind. Your oilskins don’t fit right, your arms are too short and you can’t reach some things because you’re not tall enough. But there’s something else that’s different: you’re the only woman on board. And the unspoken message is: Prove that you belong here.

The global 2×25 Review on gender equality in sailing and the maritime industry shows that these exact experiences are common. Because there’s a huge gap between visible progress at the top of the sport and the everyday experiences at grassroots level.

While the proportion of women at the top level has increased, 65% of respondents still report experiencing discrimination. Many feel they must conform too much to be accepted in teams and clubs. In other words: talent alone isn’t always enough. So, what structures help women succeed in offshore sailing? – Full report