The Volvo Ocean Race is making a major rule change to give world-class female sailors a much clearer pathway to compete at the highest level of offshore sailing in the 2017-18 edition.
In the first of a series of 10 announcements that the Volvo Ocean Race will make over the next two weeks, the rules of the race will limit all-male teams to seven sailors, one fewer than in 2014-15, and give mixed teams a significant numerical advantage.
Teams will be able to change their crew combinations from leg to leg in the race – but as in previous editions, teams will be required have the same crewmembers on board for the In-Port Race as either the previous or the subsequent offshore leg – with the exception of a team that is racing offshore with seven males, which can add an additional female for the in-port racing.
"If female offshore sailors want to compete as the best, they need to train and race with the best" - Ian Walker
Ian Walker, Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 winning skipper, and Olympic silver medallist, commented: “It would be very hard to compete with only seven people on a Volvo Ocean 65 against teams of eight or nine. This new rule will almost certainly force teams to hire women and that will create a great platform for learning."
The possible crew combinations for 2017-18 will be:
7 men
7 men and 1 or 2 women
7 women and 1 or 2 men
5 men and 5 women
11 women
The race has also reaffirmed the commitment to youth sailing, with a rule that two crew must be under the age of 30 at the end of the race in July 2018.
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