Cowes Week has announced that it is joining with the Magenta Project to promote women in sailing, and to highlight the important impact that women already have in the world’s biggest keelboat regatta.
Cowes Week has for a long time had a date set aside for the recognition of women sailing within the regatta. Working with The Magenta Project, both organisations will look to bring a greater awareness to the roles women play in our sport generally, and inspire more young women to take up sailing, whatever their ambitions.
Speaking on behalf of Cowes Week Ltd Laurence Mead the Regatta Director said: “We’ve watched The Magenta Project develop over the last couple of years and we were really inspired by the work they have done with other events and teams. While Cowes Week is a long way from an around the world race, competing on a wet windy “big day” at Cowes Week is still a mini-Everest for many people and a challenge which delivers great satisfaction when overcome. Through our work with the Scaramouche Sailing Trust, we have seen increasing numbers of young women on the water and women already make up about 35 per cent of the crew members during Cowes Week. We look forward to the Women’s Day prize giving on 2 August, when we can celebrate not just the top female sailors of the day’s racing, but with all the women that enjoy this wonderful sport.”
Jonquil Hackenberg, Chair of The Magenta Project, said: “Cowes Week is an iconic event in the sailing calendar, and we are very happy to be involved in the 2022 regatta. Some incredible women have already been part of this event, and we hope that through this partnership we are able to encourage more women to participate, but equally work with the Cowes Week organisation to highlight the amazing talented female sailors that are looking for opportunities to be part of this great event.”
The Magenta Project will be at Cowes Week throughout the week and will have a dedicated Hub for sailors to find out more about the opportunities for women in sailing, Women’s Day will take place on 2 August with a prize giving, which will be followed by a presentation and a Q&A session with leading sailors from both Cowes Week and The Magenta Project.
