Maiden Takes Ocean Globe Race With All-Female Crew
May 1, 2024
Over the years, since 1989 when Maiden hit the start line of the Whitbread Round the World Race, Canadian women have been involved. Earlier this month, Maiden won the Ocean Globe Race 2023-2024, smashing numerous records in the process, including becoming the first all-female crew to win a round-the-world race, again with Canadian sailors contributing to the huge effort as part of an international crew.
On Tuesday, April 16, in a brisk northerly breeze, the yacht crossed the finishing line at 1152hrs, completing the fourth and final leg of the Ocean Globe Race, after departing on the 27,000-mile global navigation last September.
During seven months away from home, the crew sailed over 28,500 nm during 154 days at sea, making more Maiden history, 35 years after legendary sailor Tracy Edwards skippered the first all-female crew in the 89/90 Whitbread Race aboard Maiden. You may have seen the 2019 film!
The last leg was a difficult and frustrating one for Maiden, not the longest leg in miles, but the longest time at sea during the whole race, with the leg ranking fifth in line honours and provisional fifth in IRC with corrected elapsed time.
With all legs combined, until 22 April Maiden held second place overall. Their closest rival Triana, who was in first place, needed to finish around 0600hrs on Monday to retain their lead, which they did not manage to do; with the IRC overall lead Maiden is the winner of the Ocean Globe Race 2023-2024.
