Latest news with #LivMackay
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
America's Cup: The question that saw female quota added for Naples regatta in 2027
'What I wasn't being true to myself in is that we weren't creating that next piece. What was the next piece of the story? You won the Women's America's Cup or you compete in the Women's America's Cup, then what? So, it's closed the 'then what?' story.' Gemma Jones, Liv Mackay, Jo Aleh and Molly Meech were among the members of the first Team NZ women's crew. Photo / America's Cup It was a sentiment shared by Sir Ben Ainslie, chief executive of Challenger of Record Athena Racing, who had previously said female athletes needed to earn their place in America's Cup teams. 'I've always been a believer in meritocracy but, as Grant says, at the same time, we need to take this next step. We saw a huge, huge success with the Women's America's Cup last year, and we're going to have that again in 2027, but also we're taking the next step to getting the females on the [AC]75s, and being able to prove their worth. 'It'll be fascinating to see how they develop those skills and what positions they end up playing on the boat.' The Women's America's Cup was held for the first time in Barcelona last year. Photo / America's Cup Dalton said that with the removal of cyclors taking away the power element, it could level the playing field for the possibility of another all-female team, following in the footsteps of Mighty Mary – the all-female team from the 1995 Cup. 'It's not impossible. The physicality without the cyclors is gone. There's plenty of good woman cyclors, but you know, they're going to struggle against a man effectively in that respect of apples for apples. So it's certainly not impossible. Well, I'd hope not.' While some have seen the move as a token gesture, others believe it will be a pivotal moment in the history of the world's oldest international sporting trophy. Victoria Low, chief executive of The Magenta Project, a global initiative committed to equity and inclusion in sailing, congratulated those involved in putting the protocol together and said it was a momentous decision. 'The mandated inclusion of women on AC75s represents a seismic shift in attitude at the elite end of our sport,' Low said. 'But we must not run away with ourselves. This cannot become another Instagram moment with headlines about 'sparkling' or 'smiling' female sailors that miss the point entirely. This is about discovering and supporting the raw talent that exists within our female community, preparing them to have the best chance at selection and equipping them with the tools to be competitive and strategic. 'The timing couldn't be more perfect. As we launch our 2x25 review – the most ambitious equity study ever undertaken in sailing – we're seeing real structural change at the sport's pinnacle. Now the hard work begins, building the systems so these women earn their place and are seen as sailors first, not female sailors.' Key features of the protocol for the 38th America's Cup Establishment of the America's Cup Partnership, giving teams equal authority. The body will be responsible for organising and managing the event's on- and off-water format and will oversee the development, protection and commercialisation of media and commercial rights. Two non-nationals will be allowed to sail on board. Crews are reduced from eight to five sailors. One of those five sailors must be a woman. The Youth and Women's America's Cups will continue. Teams will have a cost cap of $147million, and all existing teams must use the same AC75 hull sailed in the last edition if available. New teams will be allowed to acquire an existing hull or build a new one. There will be up to four preliminary regattas contested on AC40s; three in 2026 and one in early 2027. All teams will be entitled to enter two boats in these, with one crewed by women and youth sailors. The group stage of the Challenger Series will feature both fleet and match racing in a revamped race format. Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
SailGP's Liv Mackay on managing periods in male-dominated sport - Go with the Flow, part two
Experienced sportswomen are calling for a shift in attitudes - breaking the bias and normalising discussions around menstruation in sport. In the second of a four-part series, Bonnie Jansen speaks with sailor Liv Mackay about navigating the challenges of being the sole female on her team and how she manages her period while spending long hours at sea. For Liv Mackay, using the bathroom at sea isn't as simple as it is for her male SailGP teammates. There's no discreet way to pee overboard, and changing a tampon mid-race is nearly impossible. So she strategises her bathroom breaks as carefully as she does her sailing maneuvers - because if she doesn't, she'll be forced to bleed freely into her wetsuit. 'I personally go for the [menstrual] cup,' Mackay told the Herald. 'Because you can leave it in for up to 8 hours, and I find that really good.' At 27, Mackay is the sole woman and strategist on New Zealand's Black Foils' F50 catamaran, competing in a global sailing league. The series spans 12 cities, with events held at temporary waterfront venues - where a portable toilet is often the only bathroom available. Liv Mackay (left) strategises her bathroom breaks as carefully as she does her sailing maneuvers - because if she doesn't, she'll be forced to bleed freely into her wetsuit. Photo / Supplied She said the reusable menstrual cup is her preferred sanitary item because not only does it hold the most amount of blood for those long hours spent at sea, but it also means she can avoid changing a tampon, using an unsanitary bathroom. 'The tech site is great - but we have portaloos generally or nice versions of portaloos, so I don't really like spending a lot of time in there.' It's always been difficult for Mackay to express these types of challenges she faces managing her period as a professional sailor - given that it's such a male-dominated sport. '[Growing up] sailing, I was always with all men. All my coaches were men, so I've never had a single memory of discussing [my period] at sailing. 'I always have a memory of hiding it.' It's a contrast to what she experienced outside of sport when attending Woodford House for seven years – a boarding school for girls in Havelock North. 'I remember getting my first period there and being in an environment where I could talk about it very openly at school, which was, I guess, quite fortunate,' she said. In addition to planning and managing her period to avoid leakage or discomfort while sailing, Mackay also battles with the physical symptoms of menstruation. 'I personally struggle a lot with cramps, which is quite hard, and nausea.' She said this escalates even more when she's stressed or nervous about racing. Mackay said the reusable menstrual cup is her preferred sanitary item because it holds the most amount of blood for those long hours spent at sea. Photo / Supplied Thankfully for Mackay, she's not completely isolated, as there's at least one woman sailor on each team. Mackay said she'll use opportunities between races to confide in the fellow female athletes, where they discuss shared experiences. She said due to the stress of constant travel and competition, many athletes experience irregular cycles, which can lead to unexpected periods while out on the water - which often prompts last-minute bathroom scrambles and sharing of products. 'I'll be in the bathroom with friends at SailGP and they would have got their [period] on the water.' 'That doesn't really go away.' Mackay said it's not always easy to discuss these issues during Shark Week with her Black Foils teammates, helmsman Peter Burling and wing trimmer Blair Tuke. 'I wouldn't say I have conversations definitely never comes up in conversation. I think there's a time and a place. But I definitely feel comfortable to have conversations if I feel like I'm struggling with something. 'I 100% feel like they're very supportive.' She explained that there are moments when the team is preparing to head out, and she urgently needs to use the bathroom. 'There are often times when we're starting to go, and I really need to go to the bathroom, and I'll tell Pete or Blair, and they know it's the priority for me to leave. 'Everyone's super respectful.' Mackay said Burling has shown genuine concern and support regarding her limited access to bathroom facilities while on the water. Mackay said Peter Burling has shown genuine concern and support regarding her limited access to bathroom facilities while on the water. Photo / SailGP '[The boys pee] about 12 times every time we sail,' Mackay laughed. 'It's honestly a huge challenge [for women] in sailing, and I'd say Pete's been the one to be the biggest supporter to really push me to find solutions. He's like, 'it's a basic human need and we've got to figure this out'.' 'There's no silver bullet, but yeah, it's really interesting; they are very supportive.' Conversations with her male teammates have started to pop up around weigh-ins before each event. Because teams must stay under a combined weight limit, Mackay said it's harder for her to maintain a consistent weight compared to the men, due to hormonal fluctuations. 'I'm learning more about myself. I think as I do that, then I will be able to communicate and share more and get [the boys] to understand more.' 'I've never spent enough time reflecting on myself, but it obviously directly affects performance. So I think that's really important.' High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) health women in performance sport lead, Sue Robson told the Herald they're working to create safer environments in male dominated codes. 'Creating environments that support safety, voice and choice for female athletes in what remains a male dominated HP coaching environment is essential and another identified priority for us from our early engagement. 'Ensuring knowledge and training for all coaches of female athletes (male and female) that covers all of the female-specific health and performance areas is essential. '[Coaches] have such a big influence on athletes' comment here and there can have a big influence on female athletes.' Photo / Corey Fleming 'HPSNZ's core knowledge courses have, to date, covered some of the most critical female-specific health topics around low energy availability and safeguarding,' Robson said. 'Healthy Women in Performance Sport has this year been working with coaches to identify their needs specific to coaching female athletes.' Mackay is grateful that these conversations are becoming more normal and encourages young female sailors to find outlets so they don't feel isolated in their struggles. 'My advice would be really to find someone that you feel comfortable having a conversation with, if that's your parents, hopefully it's your coach as well, your friends - and really lean into that. 'All those different people would really change how you feel - if you don't feel good one day, or they'll support if you're on the water, if you need to go in or anything like that. 'There's no judgment or shame around what you're experiencing.' 'There's no judgment or shame around what you're experiencing,' Mackay said. Photo / SailGP To the men in the sailing, Mackay is calling for them to educate themselves on menstruation, where they can. 'If you have a partner, wife or anyone, I think that would be a great place to start. Each female is unique, so you can't just learn a blueprint for all, but, really, being curious - maybe listening to a podcast - I think it's really important, especially if you're a coach. 'You have such a big influence on athletes' comment here and there can have a big influence on female athletes.' Tuesday: Irene van Dyk on her silent struggle playing netball while menstruating, hiding the reality and avoiding conversations. Wednesday: Sailor Liv Mackay on navigating the challenges of being the sole female on her team and how she manages her period while spending long hours at sea. Thursday: Aimee Didierjean on the stigma in gymnastics, competing in tight uniforms while navigating pads and tampons, and how intense training led to her period arriving late. Friday: Ultra-marathon runner Shannon-Leigh Litt on embracing her flow and how she adapts her training to align with her cycle. Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME sports team. She was named New Zealand's Best Up and Coming journalist in 2025. She's a football commentator and co-host of the Football Fever podcast and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.
