Changing tides: Women sailors reflect on the Admiral's Cup inclusion rule
by Louay Habib / RORC 11 Jun 22:05 NZST
17 July - 1 August 2025
The return of the Admiral's Cup in the Solent © Paul Wyeth / pwpictures.com
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has long acknowledged the slow but steady path toward gender inclusion in offshore sailing.
For the forthcoming Admiral's Cup, every boat must have at least one woman, as well as another sailor under 27. The goal is to expand access, broaden the talent pool, and create a more diverse and vibrant racing community.
The RORC has seen pivotal milestones for women sailors over the one hundred years of the club's existence, but there is still so much more to achieve. The inclusion rule for the 2025 Admiral's Cup hopes to accelerate that change.
In 1929, Baroness André de Neufville became the first woman to join RORC after completing the Fastnet Race. In 1954, Hon. Ray Pitts Rivers broke new ground as the Club's first female Rear Commodore. Another significant moment came in 1969 when Mary Pera captained Italy's first Admiral's Cup team - later going on to become RORC's first female Secretary in 1972, raising visibility for women in offshore competition.
The identity of the first woman to compete in the Admiral's Cup remains unclear, but Liz Watson sailed regularly on Cervantes IV, her father Bob Watson's yacht, which helped Britain win the Cup in 1971. A decade later, Pam Saffery-Cooper raced aboard Dragon, part of the 1981 winning British team, alongside Victory of Burnham and Yeoman XXIII.
Despite these achievements, offshore sailing continues to be male-dominated. However, participation by women is growing. In a sign of changing tides, two of RORC's senior Flag Officer roles are now held by women - Admiral Janet Grosvenor and Commodore Deb Fish - highlighting a shift toward a more inclusive and representative club culture.
This crew inclusion rule for the 2025 Admiral's Cup is not just symbolic, it's designed to spark real opportunity. By placing women and young sailors on the same starting line as elite professionals it offers a platform to gain experience, build confidence and challenge outdated assumptions about who belongs in high-level offshore racing.
As the sailing world watches the return of the Admiral's Cup, this commitment to inclusion signals a bold step forward. It honours the achievements of trailblazers past, while creating new pathways for future generations, ensuring that offshore sailing is open to all who are ready to rise to the challenge.
Cole Brauer will be racing on the Monaco Yacht Club entry Jolt 6 for the Admiral's Cup. Cole made history in 2024 as the first American woman to race solo nonstop around the world. Originally from Long Island, she didn't grow up sailing but discovered her passion at the University of Hawaii where she quickly rose to lead the team. In a short period of time her journey from underdog to global record-setter has inspired thousands, both on and off the water.
"I'll be honest, I wasn't initially thrilled about the crew rule requiring one woman on board. It felt like the bare minimum, and I've often found myself as the only woman on the team. While I respect and enjoy sailing with the guys, I truly believe crews perform better with more women involved. Women are just as talented, just as driven, and they deserve the same opportunities to gain experience and grow. It's not about filling a quota - it's about recognising skill and building diverse, high-performing teams. I hope that in five or 10 years, we won't need a rule like this, because the sailing world will naturally reflect the talent of both women and men equally." - Cole Brauer (Carkeek 40 Jolt 6)
Joy Fitzgerald will be racing on the PAC 52 Final Final, representing the Royal Ocean Racing Club in the Admiral's Cup. Fitzgerald has a background in physical strength and conditioning, as well as being an offshore and inshore professional sailor. She joined Team JAJO aboard their VO65 in the 2023 Ocean Race Sprint Cup. Fitzgerald got her big break racing with Niklas Zennstrom's Team Rán and recently raced on the majestic J-Class Svea. Her experience ranges from Maxi Yacht campaigns to the intensity of cutting-edge offshore teams, marking her as a true all-rounder.
"Honestly... my first reaction to the crew rule was a bit of an eye-roll - are we really still having to tell teams to include women? I've always sailed alongside inspiring women and never saw it as something that needed enforcing. But I also recognise that this rule has opened doors. For me, it led to joining the Final Final team and becoming part of something that goes beyond just one regatta. Offshore sailing is tough, physically and mentally, and I hope this rule helps redefine what strength looks like. Yes, it might start as tokenism for some, but it gives women the chance to prove their value and build a place in professional teams. Progress, to me, means that one day we won't need a rule like this, we'll just pick the best sailors for the job. But until then, if it helps shift mindsets and create real opportunities, then it's a step worth taking." - Joy Fitzgerald (PAC52 Final Final)
Abby Ehler will be racing on Black Pearl, representing the New York Yacht Club in the Admiral's Cup. Ehler is a seasoned professional whose extensive career spans multiple round-the-world races and major global events. She first made waves as bowman and boat captain in the 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race aboard Amer Sports Too, and returned to the event in 2014-15 with Team SCA and 2017-18 with Team Brunel. Abby has also applied her logistical expertise shoreside at the America's Cup and SailGP, and was part of Team Holcim-PRB in the 2023 Ocean Race.
"When I first heard about the crew rule, I had mixed emotions. I was encouraged that a major event was prioritising inclusion, but I also worried it might lead to being seen as a quota rather than recognised for ability. That said, we've seen from SailGP and the Ocean Race that these rules can open doors and shift mindsets. If we want to normalise women in professional sailing, we need this kind of visible commitment. It's not just about ticking boxes, it's about changing culture. Inclusion leads to normalisation. The more women we see on the water, in key roles, the more natural it becomes. Five years from now, I hope we're no longer asking, 'Why is she here?' but saying, 'of course she is.'" - Abby Ehler (Botin 56 Black Pearl)
At 23 years of age, Anna Houtzager is one of the youngest sailors competing in the Admiral's Cup. She is racing with the Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team on Ker 46 ROST Van Uden. Her journey in sailing began at just six months old when her parents took her aboard a J/24 to Denmark, instilling a lifelong passion for the sport. Anna's role on board is part of the pit crew for the young Dutch team.
"I think it's a good thing this rule exists, it opens the door for women and younger sailors to be part of top-level racing. It's not a shortcut, you still have to bring value to the team. But it does help teams notice potential they might have overlooked. In many crews, women are still seen as the exception, and this rule challenges that. I want to get to a point where no one's surprised to see a woman on the crew list. If my presence helps shift that mindset, then that's already progress." - Anna Houtzager (Ker 46 ROST Van Uden)
Born in Lisbon, Mariana Lobato will be racing on Teasing Machine representing the Yacht Club de France for the Admiral's Cup. Mariana has been on the water since infancy, racing Optimists by age eight. She quickly progressed through the 420 and 470 Classes before focusing on match racing where she represented Portugal at the 2012 London Olympics and clinched the 2013 Women's Match Racing World Championship. Transitioning to high-performance multihulls and offshore boats, Mariana sailed GC32s, M32s, and Ocean Fifty trimarans. She joined the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team, winning the 2021 Ocean Race Europe, and later competed as co-skipper on the IMOCA 60 Biotherm in the 2022-23 Ocean Race.
"This rule is a step forward - it gives women and young sailors a chance to get on board and grow. But ultimately, we want to be chosen for our skills, not just because of a rule. That shift in mindset is where real progress lies. Inclusion helps break down the outdated belief that women can't be just as good as men. When we're given equal opportunities to learn and gain experience, the difference shows. Five years from now, I hope we don't need a rule to justify our place, we'll be there because we've earned it." - Mariana Lobato (NM54 Teasing Machine).
As the 2025 Admiral's Cup approaches, the inclusion rule is doing more than shaping crew lists - it's reshaping attitudes. From seasoned professionals like Abby Ehler, to emerging talents like Anna Houtzager, these women aren't just filling a requirement, they're redefining what excellence in offshore sailing looks like. Their voices underscore a shared desire not to be seen as exceptions, but as essential members of high-performing teams.
For more information about the 2025 Admiral's Cup visit admiralscup.rorc.org