On January 26, after a voyage of 57 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes, eight women made professional-sailing history when they crossed the finish line of the Jules Verne Trophy off the coast of France.
Led by French sailor Alexia Barrier and British co-skipper Dee Caffari, their mission went beyond just the sporting challenge. They were the first ever all-female crew to sail nonstop around the world on a maxi trimaran, a modern, high-performance yacht designed to win such contests.
The aim was to prove that an all-women team could complete the tough, prestigious race and help open up opportunities in the male-dominated sport of ocean racing.
“This was about redefining female sailors and pushing the boundaries and perceptions within our sport,” says Caffari, also the first woman to have sailed solo round the world in both directions.
There had only been three female sailors to round Cape Horn on a multihull before, ever
