
Stars To Steer By by Julia Jones: Why every sailor needs a suspender belt
Stars To Steer By by Julia Jones (Bloomsbury £22, 336pp)
With Winkle gripping my ankles, I succeeded in marrying the new piece of wood to the jagged remnants of the rudder with my best suspender belt.'
That image of two female friends, Rozelle Pierrepont and Winkle, stranded mid-English Channel in their motor yacht with a broken rudder, circa 1947, encapsulates the ingenuity and gusto of the sailors whom Julia Jones celebrates in her lively book about 20th-century women who went to sea.
When Naomi Power's boat started taking on water and capsizing during her circumnavigation in 1978, she plugged the hole with her T-shirt.
All these women tended to have strong rebellious streaks. Rozelle had been a Wren during the Second World War and was longing to get back to sea.
Her mother was desperate for her do the debutante Season and marry a 'nice young man'. Like so many in this book, she was in love with the sea, and nothing could stop her. She spent her own modest legacy on a small yacht, Imp.
'Ou est le capitaine?' bewildered French fishermen asked, as she and her cheerful friends arrived in their harbours 'pumping their small and leaky boat', as Jones puts it. In 1959, Rozelle would sail as far as Finland, in freezing gales.
There were the intrepid explorers like her, and there were the racers, who combined a passion for sailing with an ultra-competitive urge to win. They were often brilliant at other sports too: in 1903, Dorothy Levitt was nicknamed 'the fastest girl on Earth' after competing in one of the first automobile races. Then she was the first to win the inaugural British International Harmsworth Trophy for Motorboats – sponsored by the Daily Mail.
'To enjoy racing to the full,' wrote Barbara Hughes, a late 19th-century Solent racer, 'you should have it all in your own hands, with no one to say you 'nay', otherwise that spirit of independence – so rarely enjoyed by our sex – is lost.'
Her comment set the tone for the independence from bossy husbands for which so many women yearned. In those days when it was almost impossible for a high-born woman to get a job, sailing was an outlet for their frustrated energies. But all too often, they went to sea as 'helpmeets' to their husbands or brothers.
'Well, I have a sister,' said Ralph Stock, 'and a sister is an uncommonly handy thing to have, provided she is of the right variety.' In other words, uncomplaining and competent.
His sister Muriel had worked hard during the First World War, and was feeling rootless and dissatisfied after the war, when men took back their jobs. 'I made a stipulation with the boys that they should treat me as a man while on board,' she wrote in her book The Log Of A Woman Wanderer (1923).
Her on-board name was 'Peter'. She sailed with her brother's crew from Brixham, in Devon, to Tonga in 1920, taking eight pairs of pyjamas with her, to look as male as possible.
It's the clothes that make this book such fun to read.
'Brown in any form is to be avoided on the water,' stipulated Barbara Hughes. 'Blue gauze veils are useful but not ornamental.' 'We don't want any petticoats here!' was what the man at the Admiralty said to Vera Laughton when she offered her services as a clerical civil servant in 1914.
Nicolette Milnes-Walker, who sailed solo across the Atlantic in 1971, sailed naked whenever the weather allowed – that was one aspect of the extraordinary freedom that sailing brought.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
30 minutes ago
- The Sun
Love Island viewers beg producers to add subtitles as they struggle to understand ‘mumbling' boy
LOVE Island viewers have called for subtitles to be added to the show as they struggle to understand one of the islanders. Ben - a private hire taxi driver and model from Gloucester - has raised eyebrows for mumbling his way through various conversations. 2 2 One person moaned: 'I need subtitles to understand Ben he's so mumbly.' A second said: 'Can we have subtitles for Ben while he decides on what accent he will be using.' While a third added that it wasn't just Ben they couldn't hear, writing: 'Why do so many men mumble nowadays? You're not emasculating yourself by opening your mouth more when you speak.' Another said: 'Lived in England my whole life and I don't understand some of these accents. Where's the subtitles.' In tense scenes on tonight's Ben calls it quits with Toni after admitting she gave him the 'ick' after her reaction to Sophie Lee being sent home. It quickly turns sour and he tells her: 'I don't feel like me and you have got that spark if I am being honest.' Looking taken aback she replies 'okay' as he continues: 'That is just me being honest but I know when I have got it with someone. That I feel it straight away. But yeah I don't feel like you and me have got it.' Toni tells him: 'I mean I don't think that technique is going to work for you here.' He asks what she means and she replies: 'Right away off the bat.' Smirking, he responds: 'You'd be surprised. I feel like sparks have already been made.' A very unhappy Toni hits back: 'Good luck pal.'


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Cruz Beckham post heartbreaking family snap after brother Brooklyn tells them he ‘wants no contact'
CRUZ Beckham has shared a throwback family snap amid the ongoing family feud between the Beckhams. The youngest son of David and Victoria appeared to be looking back at happier times in the family as he shared an old snap of the three brothers with their mum after she had just given birth to daughter, Harper Seven. 5 5 The snap, believed to be taken in 2011, showed the three boys beaming down the lens of the camera as they snuggled up to their mum. Victoria tenderly held her daughter in the heartwarming picture. Cruz's decision to upload the image is very telling amid ongoing tension in the family after Brooklyn decided he no longer wanted contact with his famous family. Cruz did not add any captions nor did he tag his family members in the snap. Earlier today, it was revealed that Brooklyn is refusing to reply to messages amid the bitter feud, according to reports. The sourced said: "Brooklyn told his family he wants no contact and he's not responding to those that try to connect.' However, a source close to Brooklyn denied this and said, "this seems to be another deliberate attempt to misrepresent the truth, and it only serves to distract from this honor being bestowed on Brooklyn's father." The Sun has contacted representatives for Brooklyn and the Beckhams for comment. England legend David will be knighted as part of King Charles ' birthday honours. Peltz-Beckham's respond to reports of family feud It's a title he has coveted for some time and it means Victoria will be come Lady Beckham. David was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 after helping to secure the London 2012 Olympics. But he was blocked from getting the title by the Honours Committee after becoming caught up in a tax avoidance scheme, along with many other stars. His finances were cleared by the taxman at least four years ago - paving the way for him to finally get the coveted honour. Just weeks ago we revealed how David and Victoria feel there might be no way to reconcile with their eldest child. Brooklyn, who was a no-show at David's star-studded 50th birthday celebrations last month, shared a video of himself and Nicola riding on his motorbike and wrote: 'My whole world. I will love you forever. I always choose you baby.' Those close to the Beckhams said the message seemed 'very pointed'. A source added: 'It shows how much this situation with his family has escalated. 5 "It's very sad for everyone involved, especially David and Victoria who love him very much. This isn't the Brooklyn his family knows and loves. 'This post was like a dagger to their hearts but they will always be there for Brooklyn.' Tensions became public when Brooklyn did not publicly acknowledge fashion designer Victoria, 51, on Mother's Day. He then failed to show at any of David's 50th birthday parties. His mum and dad have continued to acknowledge him on social media, but pals of Brooklyn and Nicola suggested that was for show. The Sun revealed that the couple recently had dinner in California with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were 'very empathetic'. 5


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
England footie ace Millie Bright misses OBE ceremony with Prince William as she's on crutches with knee injury
LIONESSES ace Millie Bright missed a date with Prince William yesterday — as she is on crutches. The England defender, 31, is recovering from surgery to fix a knee injury which forced her to pull out of the Euro 2025 squad. 3 It also meant she missed her investiture at Windsor Castle, where she was due to receive an OBE. Instead, the Chelsea player hobbled along with her pet dog yesterday near her Surrey home. It comes after The Sun revealed she had split from her fiancé. An onlooker said: 'Millie's had a chaotic few weeks with news of her split and pulling out of the England squad. "But she's as tough in real life as she is on the pitch.' We revealed on Saturday how Millie had f allen for a personal trainer, and named him yesterday as married dad-of-seven Dave Zetolofsky, 39. England's World Cup captain last week made herself unavailable for this summer's Euros — stating she was unable to 'give 100 per cent mentally or physically'. She was said to be in turmoil after splitting from hubby-to-be Levi Crew and growing close to tattooed martial arts enthusiast Dave, who has been seen moving into her property. However, she has told friends her new romance has nothing to do with her squad withdrawal. There is also no suggestion that the pair cheated on their partners. Dave's wife Katie is said to be 'devastated'. A source said yesterday: 'Millie and Dave's relationship has rocketed. STAR'S NEW LOVE England footie ace Millie Bright's hunky new personal trainer lover revealed as kickboxer dad of SEVEN "They are smitten. It's tough on their former partners but they are trying to navigate through the turbulence as best they can and concentrate on a future together.' Millie was awarded her OBE after winning the 2022 Euros and captaining England to the 2023 World Cup final. Everton manager David Moyes was among those to receive the gong yesterday, and revealed he and Aston Villa fan Wills discussed football.