A newly established women’s sailing competition will kick off next week as part of the 37th edition of the America’s Cup.
The inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup will see all-female teams from 12 countries including Australia compete for the trophy.
Established in 1851, the America’s Cup is the world’s oldest sporting trophy and has historically involved male sailors.
The Puig Women’s America’s Cup is hoping to encourage more women into the sport. According to the program manager for the Swiss Alinghi Red Bull Racing‘s youth and women’s teams, recent advancements in technology will ensure that women are not disadvantaged by their biological constitution compared to men.
“We saw that in the new boats half of the crew don’t need physical strength, which means women and men can do the same job,” Coraline Jonet told ABC News.
“Obviously, you need experience. And with this first women’s America’s Cup, doing all the jobs, getting that experience, will hopefully mean being able to join the America’s Cup.”
The inaugural yacht race, which begins on October 5, is one of two new groundbreaking events that aims to inspire the next generation of sailors.
Australia’s women’s team will be led by skipper Olivia Price with an on water crew including co-helm Laura Harding and trimmers Lisa Darmanin and Annie Wilmot. Supporting the squad will be Nina Curtis, Sarah Hoffman and Zoe Thomson.
Other competitors include teams from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Canada.
Geneva-based 19-year old sailor Marie Mazuay said she is proud to be part of a new generation that is offering more opportunities for gender equity in the sport.
“I’m proud to represent women in sailing alongside women who have achieved great things, and I know how lucky I am to be part of this generation, and I’m going to make sure that this path for women continues,” she said.
“I hope that after this America’s Cup, people will take women more seriously and realize that they are just as competitive and hard-working as men.”
Her program manager added: “Young guys already see male sailors shining, and young girls will now be seeing women sailors as well shining, and the media highlighting them … it’s going to be inspiration and show them that their dream can be true.”
“Little girls will see that they can make it. I hope that in time we’ll have more and more women treated just as a sailors, no matter which gender, with the skills that she will get from this kind of pathway.”