Inclusion rule stirs fleet as Admiral's Cup set to resume after two decades
"Honestly... my first reaction was a bit of an eye-roll—are we still having to tell teams to include women?" professional sailor Joy Fitzgerald, who will race aboard PAC 52 Final Final, told Sail-World.com. "But I also recognise that this rule has opened doors."
The Royal Ocean Racing Club's resurrection of what was once considered offshore sailing's unofficial world championship coincides with the club's centenary celebrations. The revamped regatta, running July 17 to August 1 in Cowes, will feature two-boat national teams competing in Solent inshore races and offshore challenges, culminating in the iconic Rolex Fastnet Race.
Cole Brauer, who made history last year as the first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world, told the sailing website the mandate feels insufficient: "It felt like the bare minimum. While I respect sailing with the guys, I truly believe crews perform better with more women involved."
The gender requirement comes as sailing's demographics shift glacially. Nearly a century after Baroness Andre de Neufville became RORC's first female member in 1929, the sport remains stubbornly male-dominated despite women now holding two senior Flag Officer positions at the club.
"If we want to normalise women in professional sailing, we need this kind of visible commitment," veteran racer Abby Ehler, representing the New York Yacht Club aboard Black Pearl, told Sail-World, while acknowledging concerns about being seen as "a quota rather than recognised for ability."
Olympic sailor Mariana Lobato summed it up: "This rule is a step forward, but ultimately, we want to be chosen for our skills, not just because of a rule."
The Admiral's Cup is steering towards inclusion, but lasting change will depend on whether opportunity grows beyond obligation.
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