MAKING MAIDEN

As recently as the late 1980s, the idea of an all-female sailing team in the Whitbread Round the World Race (the predecessor to the Volvo Ocean Race) seemed laughable to many. How could women handle the competition? They weren’t strong enough. They wouldn’t be able to take the mental challenges of the race. They’d never get along. And who would finance such a project?

After begging her way to a spot as cook on Atlantic Privateer, one of the maxis competing in the 1985-86 race, 23-year-old Tracy Edwards was hooked. Though the male crew barely let her on deck, she absorbed as much as possible and soon began dreaming up improvements for the boat design. She set her sights on the 1989 race, but next time she wanted to be the skipper. Having been around the world once, Tracy knew she could do it again.

She returned home with plans for a new boat and started assembling her all-female crew, including American Dawn Riley, who would