Ocean Globe Race 2023
Historic Victory: Maiden Becomes First All-Female Crew to Win Round-the-World Race!
On April 16, 2024, the legendary yacht Maiden and her all-female crew made history by triumphing in the Ocean Globe Race, becoming the first all-female team to win a round-the-world race! Led by the inspirational skipper Heather Thomas, the crew braved 154 days at sea and covered over 28,500 nautical miles, showcasing extraordinary determination and skill. Despite a grueling final leg, Maiden's victory was sealed as their closest rival fell short, propelling them to an overall win.
Their triumphant return to Cowes was met with jubilant celebrations, including a Parade of Sail that honored their incredible achievement.This momentous victory not only commemorates the pioneering spirit of Tracy Edwards and her 1989-90 Whitbread Race crew but also reinforces Maiden's ongoing mission. Over six years, Maiden has empowered and inspired thousands of girls worldwide, raising awareness and funds to ensure access to education for all. The win is not just a sailing triumph; it's a powerful statement for gender equality and a brighter future for the next generation of girls. Join us in celebrating this historic achievement and the enduring legacy of Maiden!
"I am beyond proud of what these talented women have achieved. They took our success in 1990 to the next level and blew away one of the very few firsts left in women's ocean racing. Well deserved congratulations to Heather Thomas and her crew for winning on corrected time." Said Tracy Edwards MBE. "As the saying goes, 'I think my work here is done!"
Maiden and her all female crew had a remarkable journey throughout 2023 - 2024; not just racing in the Ocean Global Race (OGR) showing what a girl can achieve, but also sailing with the mission of supporting girls’ education around the world, so they too can follow their dreams. For the crew, each leg of the Ocean Globe Race 2023 wasn't just a nautical challenge but a voyage of hope, determination, action and progress!
There are so many reasons why girls cannot and do not access education; on each leg of the race we highlighted one of those reasons and raised money for charities in that relevant field working to change girls’ lives through education.
In Leg One, we tackled forced and early marriage, protecting girls' rights to their childhoods and futures. Leg Two saw us championing access to education for those girls banned from school in countries like Afghanistan, thanks to your unwavering support. In Leg Three, we focused on providing single-sex toilets for girls in schools, a crucial step towards ensuring their safety, dignity, and uninterrupted education. For Leg Four, we focused on securing access to clean water for girls, to further remove barriers to education for girls.
Sponsor a Mile, Ignite a Dream
We have now completed our OGR fundraising per leg, but if you still want to donate, you can by clicking the button below to stand with us in our mission to ensure that every girl has the right to an education. A huge thankyou to everyone who donated throughout the race! As a result, we can work with charities who break down the barriers for girls to access education and achieve their dreams to shape their futures and contribute to their communities and society. By supporting our cause, you play a pivotal role in paving the way for equality. Your donations enable us to champion the right to education, establish safe learning environments for girls and provide opportunities that will transform their lives.
Clicking the below Donate link will take you to a secure page hosted by our payment service provider, Stripe.
Donate >Meet our fearless all-female crew, who took on the stormy seas to support girls' education and make history:
“It’s very exciting to be the first all-female crew to win an around the world race. It’s a historic moment. The girls have worked really hard for it and we’re very proud of our achievement. We have the best crew and the best boat so what can I say! To those we raced against it’s been a pleasure to get to know them and we’re going to miss them."'
Heather Thomas, Skipper
