It's unusual that I come in to check my inbox and find a subject line relating specifically to women in sailing. It happens, but usually the accomplishment is pushed down in the email to highlight something else. But today I came in and was delighted to see not one but TWO subject lines relating to women kicking you-know-what and taking names in sailing. That's the start of a big day for me.
The first involves Annapolis' own Farrah Hall, who is currently competing at the 2013 ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Farrah is currently in 9th place, but has been consistently working her way up the boards over the last three days of racing. This is a major Olympic Class event, and Farrah is doing what she does best. We're all pulling for her.
The second item involves the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race. Team SCA is an all-women team sponsored by SCA, a global hygiene company. SCA's consumer base is 80% female, so they decided to go with an all-women crew for their place in one of the sailing world's most exciting events. I love this team not only because they're all female but also because their Product of the Month is a "dryper" called Wee Wee Dry. Ladies, contain yourself. I know you all want to just rush right out and buy that.
ANYWAY, Team SCA has announced their first five crew members: Carolijn Brouwer (NED), Sophie Cizcek (AUS), Sam Davies (CBR), Annie Lush (GBR), and Liz Wardley (AUS). This won't be Sam Davies' first rodeo: she's previously finished fourth in the Vendee Globe.
Wee Wee Dry aside, we're really excited about this. When the Volvo Ocean Race came into Boston in 2010, Puma had a tee-shirt for sale that read "I'm a Drunken Sailah!" A friend of mine thought it was hilarious and rushed up to buy one. The only problem? The female version of the t-shirt read "I'm With a Drunken Sailah!" Not that women really want to advertise their own bouts with addiction, but I think it's about time the sailing world recognized that us ladies can get in on the action.
