Article Summary
In 1990, Maiden became the first all-female crew to sail around the world in the Whitbread Round the World Race, defying sexist attitudes in sailing. Decades later, Maiden is now back on the high seas, touring around the world to raise funds and awareness for girls’ education. The restoration project was led by the original crew from the 1989-90 race, with support from Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein. The Maiden Factor, the name of the not-for-profit organization, forms part of the legacy of the original crew. Between 2021 and 2024, Maiden intends to sail 90,000 nautical miles, visiting 60 destinations in more than 40 different countries.
What This Means for You
- You can support Maiden’s cause by spreading awareness about their mission to empower women and promote girls’ education.
- Consider contributing financially to the organization to support their global initiatives.
- You can follow Maiden’s journey and take inspiration from the empowering story of women’s resilience and determination in overcoming challenges.
- Encourage gender equality in sports communities and support opportunities for women to participate and lead in various fields, including sailing.
How pioneering yacht Maiden overcame ‘the real last bastion of male dominance’ and continues to empower women
CNN
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More than three decades since its pioneering, round-the-world voyage, the Maiden racing yacht is again sailing the high seas – and changing the lives of young women in the process.
Skippered by British sailor Tracy Edwards, Maiden became the first all-female crew to sail around the world in 1990 – a landmark moment for a sport that was slow to welcome women into the fold.
“It’s hard to remember that people were pretty aggressive about not wanting us to race around the world,” Edwards tells CNN Sport’s Don Riddell. “It was the real last bastion of male dominance in a sport.”
The crew ended up winning two of the six legs of the Whitbread Round the World Race – now known as the Volvo Ocean Race – and placed second overall in its class, defying the sexist attitudes that pervaded sailing at the time.
“One of the headlines, which has to be my favorite, was: ‘Maiden is just a tin full of tarts,’” says Edwards, adding that the same journalist later referred to the crew as “a tin full of smart, fast tarts.”
Fast forward 33 years ago and Maiden continues to represent “the empowerment of women, the strength of women, and what women are capable of,” according to Edwards.
Having been restored to its former glory, the yacht has been touring around the world since 2018, recently completing a journey from Dakar, Senegal, to Cape Town, South Africa.
The aim of the tour is to raise funds and awareness for girls’ education, trying – particularly in the developing world – to keep them in education until they are 18.
Making Maiden seaworthy once more was no easy feat. In 2014, Edwards was told that the vessel had fallen into disrepair and was rotting away in the Seychelles.
That prompted the original crew from the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race to start a fundraiser. Along with support from Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein, the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, they were able to bring Maiden back to the UK and begin a restoration project.
“The Maiden Factor” – the name given to the not-for-profit organization – forms part of the legacy of the original crew.
Between 2021 and 2024, Maiden intends to sail 90,000 nautical miles, visiting 60 destinations in more than 40 different countries.
“I’m seeing people getting to dream more and understanding that we are limitless as human beings,” says Lungi Mchunu, a member of the current Maiden crew.
“I just want them to be able to dream and know that they can try and do anything. If it doesn’t work for you, that’s fine; you keep moving, you find something that’s more suited for you.”
People Also Ask About
- Who is Tracy Edwards? – Tracy Edwards is a British sailor who skippered the first all-female crew to sail around the world in the 1990 Whitbread Round the World Race.
- What happened to Maiden after the 1990 race? – Maiden fell into disrepair and was rotting away in the Seychelles. In 2014, Tracy Edwards and the original 1989-90 crew started a fundraiser to restore the yacht.
- What is The Maiden Factor? – The Maiden Factor is the not-for-profit organization associated with the restoration of Maiden, with a mission to raise funds and awareness for girls’ education.
- What is Maiden’s current mission? – Maiden is currently touring around the world, visiting various countries to raise funds and awareness for girls’ education in the developing world.
- How long is Maiden’s current journey? – Between 2021 and 2024, Maiden intends to sail 90,000 nautical miles, visiting 60 destinations in more than 40 different countries.
Expert Opinion
Maiden’s journey symbolizes female resilience and determination, demonstrating how women can break barriers and challenge stereotypes in male-dominated fields. By empowering young women through its global initiatives, Maiden reinforces the importance of gender equality and inspires future generations of female leaders in sports and beyond.
Key Terms
- Maiden
- Tracy Edwards
- Whitbread Round the World Race
- The Maiden Factor
- Girls’ education
- Female empowerment
- Voyaging
- All-female crew
- Sailing
- Global initiatives
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