Dear readers,

The America's Cup, the sailing event of superlatives, casts its shadow ahead. It has been 173 years since the most prestigious regatta took place for the first time. 173 years, mind you, in which women played virtually no role in the battle for the world's oldest sporting trophy. Until this year!

When the six sailing superpowers New Zealand, USA, England, Italy, France and Switzerland compete for the most important prize in international sailing in the 37th America's Cup off Barcelona in September and October, there will also be a Women's America's Cup for the first time. Twelve teams will compete against each other on foiling AC40 boats, including a German team!

The best international female sailors are expected to take part in the regatta, all of whom have active competitive careers with numerous Olympic medals, world and European championship titles. Sailing at the very highest level is therefore guaranteed.

The question remains as to why it took so long - 173 years! - before women were allowed onto the big sailing stage? Was sailing a macho sport, and is the wind now changing?

Let's hope so, because the sailing world has produced some impressive women who can only be admired. Among them is Jessica Watson, now 31 years old, who in 2010 became the youngest single-handed sailor to sail non-stop around the world. Her inspiring story was filmed on Netflix under the title "True Spirit" and shows the strength of will, courage and passion it takes to pull off such an adventure. I have followed her journey, read her books and watched the film with my daughters, who had tears in their eyes. Chapeau for this achievement!

Mention must also be made of Ellen MacArthur, born in 1976, who sailed offshore regattas at the top level for a long time and caused an international sensation with her second place in the Vendée Globe in 2001. Her world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation in 2005 (71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes) lasted three years and earned her the aristocratic title of Dame Commander of the British Empire, which was bestowed on her by Queen Elizabeth II. Long before the social media hype, Ellen ensured that women were recognised in sailing.

The 30-year-old sailor Cole Brauer also joined the ranks of the great female sailors last year. She became famous for her participation in the Global Solo Challenge 2023-2024, which she finished in second place and at the same time became the first American woman to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. Over the course of the race, her fan base on the social media channel Instagram grew from a few thousand to almost 500,000 followers, who she shared the highs and lows of her everyday life on board with daily selfie videos and in a wonderfully authentic way. This is how she managed to get people excited about sailing who had never had anything to do with our sport before.

The list of inspiring and passionate female sailors who put up with many hardships for the sport of sailing goes on and on. Unfortunately, it is still the case today that professional athletes in sailing - with a few exceptions - can barely make a living from their passion and their existence as professionals. As in all sports, this affects female athletes all the more.

There are female sailors who are prepared to live on the breadline for years or even decades in pursuit of their dream of a great career. The only thing that counts is their boat and maximising their time on the water! I admire these women whose dream is so big that they won't let it stop them. Despite all the hardships that their lifestyle entails. Hang in there, one day it will pay off!

Luise Wanser, the 2022 World Champion in the 470, recently told me how much dedication, passion and commitment it takes to be at the top of the Women's America's Cup. Together with Carolina Werner and six other top female sailors, the athletes train on the water 20 days a month, plus four-hour sessions a day in the AC40 sailing simulator in Kiel. They study in the morning before the session ("The more difficult topics") and in the evening after the training sessions. Even if our German professional women cannot train on their own AC40s on the water like seven competing teams, the bite and will to win are there. I am deeply impressed by the discipline with which Luise Wanser is preparing for the America's Cup in Barcelona. Like all participating nations, Team Germany knows that the Women's America's Cup is an excellent opportunity for women to set an example for equality in sailing.

The fact that we have taken a big step in the right direction in terms of gender equality in sport in recent decades is shown by the latest Olympic statistics, according to which the Games in Paris are the first with gender parity. But even that took a long time. 124 years, to be precise. IOC President Thomas Bach summarised it aptly: "We are about to celebrate one of the most important moments in the history of women at the Olympic Games and in sport as a whole."

A total of 330 athletes - 165 men and 165 women from 65 countries - will compete in Marseille on 252 boats and boards for 30 medals in ten Olympic sailing disciplines.

Incidentally, the first woman to officially take part in the Olympic Games was a sailor. Hélène de Pourtalès was part of a mixed sailing team at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. She sailed for Switzerland together with her husband and nephew and won a gold medal in the 1-2 tonne class on the yacht "Lérina".

Martin Hager,

Editor-in-Chief YACHT

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