Maiden has won the McIntyre Ocean Globe Race, taking first in IRC handicap rankings against a 14-strong fleet of very experienced and committed sailors.
And Maiden’s sailors have also been written into the history books as the first ever all-women crew to win an around-the-world yacht race.
The former Whitbread yacht has taken the coveted title after 153 days, two hours, 16 minutes and 53 seconds of racing around the world.
Virtually none of the crew had previously faced such an epic challenge, and only one had sailed in the Southern Ocean before.
The international crew of Maiden fly their flags on deck | Credit: The Maiden Factor/Kaia Bint Savage
They crossed the finish line at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes at 10:52 UTC last Tuesday 16 April in a haze of excitement, having sailed 6,599 nautical miles from Punta del Este on leg 4 of the OGR — making it look easy when all knew it was not.
It has been a tense wait for the women over the past few days to watch if second-placed entrant on IRC, French yacht TRIANA, could reach the finish line early enough to beat them on handicap, but that is now impossible.
Heather Thomas, the youngest skipper in the fleet, spoke of her pride in taking first place.
“It’s very exciting to be the first all-female crew to win an around the world race,” she said. “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. It’s been an incredible first OGR and I hope the ones that follow are as good. Maiden won’t do the next one, but I will.”
Thomas said that from race start the Maiden crew were “in it to win it” — something they achieved while consistently ranking in the top half of the fleet.
In Leg 1 they came in third in line honours and IRC. In Leg 2, fourth in both line honours and IRC and Leg 3, Auckland to Punta del Este, second in line honours and 4th in IRC.
Thomas also spoke highly of her talented crew, hailing from the UK, Antigua, USA, South Africa, France and Afghanistan. She described being a tight-knit team, with first mate Rachel Burgess, as one of Maiden’s main strengths.
“We work together so well,” Thomas said. “Everyone brings something to the team, without this we wouldn’t achieve what we do.”
A little bit of the bubbly for Maiden’s all-women crew at dockside in Cowes | Credit: The Maiden Factor/Kaia Bint Savage
OGR founder Don McIntyre also shared his delight at Maiden’s success.
“Every one of the 220 sailors who have sailed, or who are still sailing today in this OGR has a story and did it for special reasons. Now their lives will be changed forever, none more so than the crew of Maiden with this beautiful and historic win against some very serious teams,” he said,
“This Ocean Globe Race is a story about humans recreating the early Whitbread races and for the first time in 30 years, giving ordinary sailors a chance to race around the world in classic yachts. To see Maiden recreate their glorious Whitbread history and WIN the OGR is and will always be an inspiration to many. Bravo indeed!”
Designed by Bruce Farr, the 58-foot aluminium-hulled yacht Maiden was known as Disque D’Or 3 when it came fourth in the 1981-82 Whitbread.
The yacht was then renamed Stabilo Boss for the 1986-87 BOC single-handed challenge, coming seventh. In 1987 the boat was bought by Tracy Edwards MBE, who made headlines in the 1989 Whitbread skippering Maiden around the world with an all-female crew.
The final prize-giving and presentation of the McIntyre Ocean Globe Race winners trophy will be in Rome, Italy on Friday 21 June. There are currently seven McIntyre OGR entrants still racing toward the finish line.
