A positive trend inspires the next generation of female offshore racers

Justine Mettraux (Teamwork – Team Snef, IMOCA) reflects the positive trend, "We're seeing more and more competitive projects among women," the Swiss skipper explains. "It's true that there are now a lot of very good female sailors." Mettraux just set the women's solo round-the-world record in the last Vendée Globe (76 days, 1 hour). 

This latest edition of the Transat Café L'Or proves once again that women sailors are making their mark, racing on equal terms with well resourced projects. This time there will be no less than 18 women on the start, competing in three of the four divisions. So far there are no women competing double handed in the Ultim class. But in the 74 boat fleet now there will be five all-female duos. 

"Now, we're no longer really seen as UFOs," smiles Sasha Lanièce (Alderan, Class40), who will be partnered with Germany’s Olympic 49erFX medallist turned offshore racer Sanni Beucke. "It's important and normal that there are women at the back, in the middle, and at the front of the fleet... We want to perform; it's in our DNA." 

Three times division winner on this race Yann Eliès is sailing with Elodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes – Queguiner) on her IMOCA major race debut. For him, "a new generation of women is emerging. They are tough women who are physically capable of withstanding the challenges the oceans pose," smiles Yann. Bonafous, responds, “There’s always a bit of pride in breaking through to the highest level as a woman but really I am not in favour of distinguishing women from men."

"A boost to those who are up and coming"

Bonafous is delighted at the trend “Seeing women at the front, like Justine, gives a boost and motivation to all the others." 

She contends "It's through action that we will move things forward." The Cap pour elles initiative with Engie, which supports female sailors all the way to the Transat Café L'Or, demonstrates this in its own way. This is the third time that the initiative, which this time gives the duo of Spain’s Aina Bauza Roig and Axelle Pillain a chance to express themselves, has been repeated.

There will also be an all-female duo in OceanFifty with Anne-Claire Le Berre and Élodie-Jane Mettraux (Upwind by MerConcept). "We could see that there hadn't been any women in multihulls for about twenty years," says Anne-Claire. "It's difficult to set up women's projects, and that means few women have the necessary experience." The project, led by MerConcept and 11th Hour, has generated a lot of interest. "During the selection process, there were 120 applications, with seven people selected," smiles Anne-Claire. Also behind the project was Italian Francesca Clapcich, who will compete in the Transat Café L'Or in IMOCA with Will Harris.

In Ocean Fifty there is also Audrey Ogereau, who is partnered with past winner Erwan Le Roux (Koesio). "We're committed to increasing the number of women on our boats," Le Roux enthuses. "I'm convinced that diversity boosts performance." 

Indeed the Le Roux-Ogereau duo is leading the championship after winning two Grand Prix races earlier in the season. 

For sure all the women are setting out to leave nothing on the race course, to arrive in Martinique with no regrets and who knows maybe there will be more females on the podiums than ever before.