The Ocean Race celebrates record-breaking numbers of women in 2022/23 edition as new rule bears fruit

The 2022/23 Ocean Race featured more women sailors than ever before.

There were 39 women sailors, more than a quarter of the competitors, compared to 98 men in the race.

That is more than ever before in the race’s 50-year history, and an improvement by a third compared to the previous edition.

Each IMOCA team was required to have at least one woman on their crew, and three of 10 were required on the VO65 teams. Biotherm led the way with two women and two men on three of the seven legs.

Biotherm also had a woman onboard reporter for several legs, as did Team Holcim-PRB.

The Ocean Race also made improvements in the race for greater equality in sailing off the water, with some traditionally male-dominated roles seeing an increased number of women. Following a big drive to bring gender equality to official roles, the current edition had an international jury of 11 members, made up of 6 women and 5 men.

Richard Brisius, race chairman, The Ocean Race said: “Making sailing more inclusive is one of the most important things we can do to secure the future of the sport. We’re delighted to have a record percentage of female competitors in the race and more females taking on traditionally male-dominated roles. We are sailing in the right direction, but more needs to be done to break down barriers and create pathways into the sport for women. Just as we have set an industry benchmark in driving more female participants in the sport, we need to move the dial on diversity and leave a legacy in which the sport becomes much more accessible to all.

“Coming together as an industry and working collaboratively is the only way that this can be achieved. For the race, we will continue to work with our host cities and local and national sailing federations to create pathways and opportunities. We also need greater commitments and action across the industry.”

Holcim - PRB sailor and co-founder of The Magenta Project, Abby Ehler added: "I have participated in four editions of this race and The Ocean Race 2022-23 has taken a step forward in terms of inclusivity. I have genuinely felt part of a team, and not a token gesture to a rule. This in my mind says a lot and shows that change is happening. Men and women competing side by side in a team is now being normalised – we are one of many, rather than the first, or the only.

“I do believe that the rules around crew diversity help to increase female participation and inclusion and I hope this continues with the pathways and opportunities ensuring that crew diversity occurs organically without the need for a rule."

The Ocean Race was the first round the world crewed race with female sailors, with 13 women competing in the first race, back in 1973. For the 2017-18 edition, the race introduced a rule requiring all teams to include at least one woman.