Equality is a long way off for women

This was the New York Times headline in 1978. Nearly 50 years later, how is the sport doing?

Around the turn of the century, when hardy men sailed the square‐riggers around the oceans, it was considered had luck for a woman to step aboard a boat. Bad luck, obviously, is a matter of definition. And today the only misfortune involved is in the eyes of male opponents who have been forced sometimes to take a hack seat to leading women skippers.

In recent years, American women have been nudging the men aside, even to the point of capturing a few world titles. But make no mistake. There’s still a long way to go.

For instance, there is a move under way to create a separate women’s division in Olympic yacht racing. The idea only serves to raise the hackles of some of America’s leading women sailors. After more than 75 years, they believe is another attempt to cast them in the role of second‐class citizens. – Full report

Editor’s note: Great commentary from Americans Joan Ellis, Sally Lindsey, and Jan O’Malley.