“Maiden” shines light on the first all-female yacht racing crew

Colette Greenstein

Colette Greenstein has been a contributing arts & entertainment writer for the Banner since 2009. VIEW BIO

Directed by Alex Holmes, the documentary “Maiden” tells the remarkable true story of Tracy Edwards, a 27-year-old charter boat cook who in 1989 became the skipper of the first all-female crew to enter the world’s biggest sailing event, the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.

Faced with what seemed like insurmountable challenges at the time, from a lack of financial support and corporate sponsorship, to having to rebuild a second-hand beat-up racing yacht, to facing blatant sexism, Edwards and her crew of 11 women dug deep and proved everyone wrong.

Speaking to the Banner last month on a promotional tour for the film, Edwards said seeing the documentary reminded her that she had steadfast faith in her crew, if not herself. “I never doubted that we could sail around the world. I thought we would win. I thought we could easily win,” she said. “I doubted myself. I never doubted the collective. Just me. I thought I was the weak link.”

The British sailor, who began working on charter boats as a cook and stewardess at the age of 16, observed and absorbed as much as she could about racing. She would sit for hours watching the guys, and was never afraid of asking questions or advice.

After being involved in the 1985 competition as a cook in the 4th Whitbread Race, she decided to compete in the 5th Whitbread Race, which was slated to sale from Southampton, England on September 2, 1989.

Early on in her life as a sailor, Edwards learned that “the sisterhood of the charter world is very strong,” she said, adding, “Being amongst a collective to me was a wonderful revelation” after having been bullied in her youth.

With an inherent ability to find and inspire talented women sailors, Edwards assembled the all-female crew, which include her girlhood best friend Joanna Gooding, to join her on this adventure. Many of the women had far more experience and knowledge in sailing than Edwards herself, but her determination and drive made her a natural leader, even when she battled exhaustion and self-doubt.

The crew members banded together, rolled up their sleeves, and ripped apart, rebuilt and restored the Maiden on time, knowing the stakes were high. They worked together, hung out together and lived in Tracy’s house together until they were able to secure a crew house. “It worked well for the race because we knew each other so well,” said Edwards.

Reflecting on that period in her life and on Maiden’s successful nine-month, 32,000-mile voyage, Edwards said she is very proud of all she and her team accomplished—both personally and professionally.

In the summer of 2018, the Maiden was relaunched. The yacht has been given a new life as an ambassador and fundraiser for girls’ education through Edwards’ The Maiden Factor Foundation. She believes that this is the perfect year for Maiden going around the world. “We feel a natural gravitation towards the Women’s March, #MeToo, Time’s Up, HeForShe, and it feels really good to be part of a collaborative rather than standing out there on your own, going ‘Women can do this.’”

“Maiden” opens Friday, July 5 at AMC Boston Common and Landmark Kendall Square in Cambridge.