With International Women’s Day falling Saturday 8 March we take a look back on 12 months that have seen some truly fantastic leaps for women in sailing Over the past 12 months, women in sailing have achieved remarkable milestones, showcasing their skill, determination, and passion for the sport. As we approach International Women\u2019s Day, it\u2019s fitting to celebrate these accomplishments that have not only broken records but also paved the way for future generations.
\nJustine Mettraux was first International Skipper in the Vend\u00e9e Globe. Photo: Anne Beauge \/ Alea
\nRecord-Breaking Vend\u00e9e Globe
\nPerhaps the obvious place to start is the 2024\/25 Vend\u00e9e Globe which saw six female skipper stake to the startline, equaling the record set in the previous edition. These remarkable sailors showcased exceptional skill and determination in this solo, non-stop, around-the-world race and in the process set two new records.
\nJustine Mettraux: Swiss skipper Justine Mettraux achieved an impressive eighth place finish, becoming the first woman and first international competitor to cross the finish line. She completed the race in 76 days, 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds, beating the previous fastest time for a female skipper of 87 days set by Clarisse Cremer in the previous edition of the race.
\nViolette Dorange became the youngest solo sailor to complete the Vend\u00e9e Globe. Photo: Thomas Deregnieaux \/ Qaptur
\nViolette Dorange: 23-year-old French sailor Violette Dorange became the youngest solo sailor to complete the Vend\u00e9e Globe, finishing the around-the-world race in a record-setting 90 days, 22 hours, and 37 minutes. Her journey captivated millions, inspiring a new generation of sailors and highlighting the evolving landscape of competitive sailing.
\nElsewhere French yachtswoman Clarisse Cr\u00e9mer finished second woman despite having faced significant challenges leading up to the race not least being dropped by her sponsor after taking a short maternity leave break from the sport. The fall out hit papers and started a conversation about the \u2018motherhood penalty\u2019 in top-level sport.
\nSam Davies participated in her fourth Vend\u00e9e Globe aboard Initiatives-C\u0153ur 4. At 50, British skipper Pip Hare embarked on her second Vend\u00e9e Globe but was cruelly denied a finish after a dismasting forced her retirement.\u00a0 Isabelle Joschke also returned for her second Vend\u00e9e Globe.
\nThese six women demonstrated exceptional courage and skill, further solidifying the growing presence and impact of female sailors in the Vend\u00e9e Globe.
\nLuna Rossa Prada Pirelli Women\u2019s Team win the Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup. Photo: Ian Roman \/ America\u2019s Cup
\nFirst ever Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup
\nWhether a separate Women\u2019s only America\u2019s Cup will help drive inclusion in the America\u2019s Cup itself and gender equality in sailing is a debate for another day, but there is no denying that the first ever Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup at the tail end of 2024 was a big deal.
\nLuna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team and Athena Pathway fight it out in the final of the Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup. Photo: Ian Roman \/ America\u2019s Cup
\nIn the end it was the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team who triumphed in the first Women\u2019s America\u2019s Cup. Led by skipper Giulia Conti, the Italian team clinched victory over Britain in a closely contested 18-minute race, finishing just eight seconds ahead. This event was a significant step toward , showcasing women\u2019s capabilities in high-stakes competitive environments.
\nFor the final leg Marie Tabarly\u2019s strategy was \u201cto go fast, fast, fast and we accelerate at the end\u201d. Clearly a winning strategy! Photo: Tim Bishop\/PPL
\nWomen to the fore in the Ocean Globe Race
\nEarly 2025 saw the finish to the epic Ocean Globe Race, a round-the-world yacht race which began in 2023 and was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973.
\nThe handicap round the world race, which took part in stages, saw two impressive wins for women. First Marie Tabarly rewrote history doing what her famous father \u00c9ric never managed; winning line honours in the race helming the same 52-year-old yacht sailed by her father in the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race.
\nThen came another incredible performance as former Whitbread yacht Maiden, sailed by an all-female international crew won the whole thing after 153d 2h 16m 53s of racing around the world. Virtually none of the crew had previously faced such an epic challenge and only one had sailed in the Southern Ocean before
\nThe Maiden crew became the first all -female crew to win a round the world yacht race.
\nMaiden and her crew are no strangers to smashing glass ceilings and sailing into the history books. In the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race, Tracy Edwards skippered the 58ft yacht and, with her crew, became the first all-female team to take part in a round the world yacht race.
\nBut this time around the Maiden crew become the first all-female crew to win a round the world yacht race.
\nCole Brauer became the first American woman to sail solo non-stop around the world. Photo: Alvaro Sanchis
\nCole Brauer\u2019s Historic Circumnavigation
\nIn March 2024, Cole Brauer made history by becoming the first American woman to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation via the three Great Capes. Aboard her Class 40 yacht, First Light, Brauer sailed approximately 27,910 nautical miles in 130 days, demonstrating exceptional resilience and sailing prowess. Her journey was not just a personal triumph but also a significant milestone for American women in solo ocean racing.
\nAina Bauza\u2019s crossing time from Cadiz to San Salvador was 30 days 22 hours and 34 minutes. Photo: Peters & May
\nAina Bauza\u2019s Solo Transatlantic Record
\nApril 2024 saw Spanish sailor Aina Bauza set a new solo transatlantic record. Navigating her Mini 6.5m yacht, Red\u00f3, Bauza became the first solo sailor to complete the 4,800-nautical-mile journey from Cadiz to San Salvador in a monohull, achieving a crossing time of 30 days, 22 hours, and 34 minutes. Her accomplishment highlighted her exceptional seamanship and determination.
\nThese are just a few of the impressive achievements over the past year all of which reflect the impressive strides women have made in sailing, breaking barriers and setting new standards. As we celebrate International Women\u2019s Day, we honour these trailblazers who continue to inspire and lead the way in the maritime world.<\/p>\n
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The post From the Vend\u00e9e Globe to the America\u2019s Cup: Women Who Conquered Sailing in 2024-25 appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With International Women’s Day falling Saturday 8 March we take a look back on 12 months that have seen some truly fantastic leaps for women in sailing Over the past 12 months, women in sailing have achieved remarkable milestones, showcasing … <\/p>\n