Both have made sailing history. One - Tracy Edwards, 53 - 30 years ago, when she was the first to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race predecessor Whitbread Round the World Race with an all-women team on her "Maiden" in 1985/1986, the other - Dee Caffari, 43 - in the last two decades as the first woman to sail around the globe in both directions solo and later also with teams.
The strong British female sailors have now met for an interview with the TV channel Sky Sports and discussed the new regulations for the Volvo Ocean Race, which will encourage the formation of mixed teams in the upcoming 13th edition of the team race around the world. The following combinations will be permitted: A) 7 men; B) 7 men and 1 or 2 women; C) 7 women and 1 or 2 men; D) 5 men and 5 women; E) 11 women. With this innovation, CEO Mark Turner has taken up the cudgels for female sailors at professional level and is setting new standards.
In an interesting studio interview with Sky Sports, round the world sailors Tracy Edwards and Dee Caffari explain what the new rules could mean for women in the Volvo Ocean Race and why it would be arrogant to start the ocean marathon around the world with an all-male crew of seven
Edwards and Caffari explain objectively, informatively and confidently why they believe the new rules will usher in a new era. They are even more in favour of mixed teams than women-only teams, which they believe the new rules will favour. Dee Caffari is convinced that a smaller men's crew will be at a major disadvantage compared to a larger mixed crew in the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race: "The guys with seven men will look a bit arrogant if they are beaten by the mixed teams."
Tracy Edwards also remembers golden times on her catamaran "Maiden 2", with which she went on a record hunt after the female Whitbread premiere: "At the time, we broke more records with a mixed crew than any other British team."
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
