Race rules to support gender diversity
Introduced by Anglo-Saxon races, the rules imposing mixed gender in crewed races are rapidly developing in ocean racing, including in France. From the Transat Paprec to the Figaro, via the Mini 6.50, we are seeing the arrival of races with a mixed crew on many boats. The Ocean Race imposes female crew on board and the America's Cup creates a Women's Cup. And each organizer does not fail to underline its efforts for gender diversity, through numerous press releases.
Women skippers at the top of the bill
It has been a long time since we have seen some women at the top of the bill in sailing races. We can mention the pioneers Florence Arthaud or Ellen Mac Arthur... But the number of women skippers tends to increase, satisfying those who want to see the glass half full. Some women are now able to finance large new boats and we hope to see Alexia Barrier's 100% female Jules Verne Trophy project emerge soon.
Is the sailor asexual?
But for all that, the world of sailing is far from being totally egalitarian. The removal of Clarisse Crémer from Team Banque Populaire is the latest example. But is the problem really that of sailing, or rather that of society in general? The criterion for participation in the Vendée Globe, which is the crux of the matter, is based on the regularity of the sailors' sailing over the four years leading up to the race. A pregnant woman, and beyond, a young mother sees her professional career interrupted for several months. This is true, in sailing as elsewhere. And as elsewhere, it is an obstacle to the career development of women, even if in the case of Clarisse Crémer, the issue, also linked to the recovery of her boat, is more complex. Once this is established, it is necessary to find mechanisms to remedy the situation. Society as a whole is experimenting with solutions, not always satisfactory. The world of sport, with its media coverage, should probably be the driving force and innovate. The feminization of politics has been achieved through quotas, should sailing follow suit, or more original solutions? It is clear that if there is no feminine form of the word sailor, it is not an asexual being...
