Offshore sailing crosses a line it has never crossed before this September, when every crew in The Ocean Race Atlantic will be split exactly evenly between men and women, two and two, on all six IMOCA boats. It is the first time in the race's 53-year history that gender parity has been made compulsory.
The shift carries weight beyond the numbers themselves.
Back in the 2014-15 edition of The Ocean Race, only 18 percent of sailors were women. That rose to 28 percent in the 2022-23 race, which for the first time required at least one female sailor per boat and drew more women competitors than any previous edition in the event's 50-year history. The new 50/50 rule for the Atlantic race takes that trajectory a significant step further.
Francesca Clapcich knows exactly what is at stake. The Italian sailor became the first woman from her country to win The Ocean Race in 2022-23, and she will skipper Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing in the new event. Her reaction to the mandate was blunt and personal.
"This new mandate puts world-class female sailors in the most visible, high-performance context in offshore racing while also sending a message to every young sailor watching from the dock or the club that this sport has a place for them," she said. "The rules of the game are changing, and that belonging is not something you have to earn by shrinking yourself to fit in."
Paul Meilhat, who skippered Biotherm in the last edition, was already ahead of the previous quota. His team sailed with two men and two women on three of the seven legs, well beyond what was required at the time.
"I have been sailing alongside women for 20 years, their contribution is every bit as important as the men on the team," Meilhat said. "In the end, you want the best team possible, and different experiences, skills and ways of thinking can only make you stronger."
The race itself breaks new ground too. It is the first point-to-point event in the 50-year history of The Ocean Race, starting in New York City on 1 September and running the Gulf Stream across to Lorient in France.
Around the start and finish, a programme of events has been built with Impact Partner 11th Hour Racing, aimed at widening who gets to take part in sailing, not just at the top level but throughout the industry.
There are technical career clinics for women run with The Magenta Project, in Newport, Rhode Island on 24 and 25 August, and again in Lorient on 9 and 10 September. New York hosts a discussion on equitable leadership in sport and industry on 27 August. Beginner sailing sessions for underrepresented communities run in Brooklyn on 28 and 29 August, and in Lorient on 12 and 13 September.
There is also a hands-on morning at Brooklyn Bridge Marina on 29 August for young women aged 8 to 14 from the Women's Sports Foundation, exploring ocean science and offshore racing, with actress and ocean advocate Bailey Bass involved. Lorient will screen the documentary Women from the Sea on 9 September, followed by a discussion on the women shaping the ocean's future through science, sport and conservation.
Rebecca White, Senior Advisor Ocean Literacy & Learning, Access & Equity at The Ocean Race, framed the changes as part of a longer campaign.
"The ocean is for everyone, but opportunities within sailing have historically been limited," White said. "We are committed to turning the tide, creating more pathways for women and under-represented groups to be part of the sailing world, both as athletes and across the many roles that make up the wider industry."
She added: "We hope that this inspires others to take steps towards greater equality, and that one day, rules like these will no longer be needed because equal representation has become the norm."
