Whitbread Round the World Race Yacht Returned to England After Ten Months

Maiden Wins Race Around The World

The Whitbread Round the World Race was a popular and arduous yacht race. The inaugural race began in 1973, and the final race was held in 1998. During its existence, it was considered one of the premier events in professional sailing.

The race was open to monohull yachts that were at least 50 feet long. The course was approximately 27,000 nautical miles, and the yachts had to stop at several ports along the way. The race was typically completed in about 10 months.

Maiden: The First All-Female Crew

In 1989, Maiden became the first yacht to be crewed entirely by women to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race. The yacht was skippered by Tracy Edwards, and the crew included several experienced sailors. Though not all of the crew had competed in the Whitbread, they had sailed in other ocean races.

Maiden faced many challenges during the race. The yacht was damaged in a storm, and the crew had to make several repairs. Additionally, the crew was inexperienced in some areas, and they had to learn quickly. Despite these challenges, Maiden finished the race in 11th place.

Maiden's victory was a major accomplishment for women in sailing. It showed that women were capable of competing in one of the most challenging races in the world. The victory also inspired other women to take up sailing. Today, there are many successful female sailors, and women's sailing is a growing sport.