Stories of women, sea and sailing

Over the years, the taboo has, of course and rightly, been broken countless times, and 2024 marks a further step forward with the opening to women's teams of a sailing event of international standing such as the America's Cup. Among them, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. However, change clearly has more distant origins.

The history of Ching Shih dates back to the 18th Century in Guangdong province. In the port city of Canton, the woman was captured by a pirate at the head of six fleets of ships who had fallen in love with her and had chosen her as his bride. To the marriage proposal the woman replied: “I will marry you on the condition that you share your spoils with me and put me in charge of one of the fleets.” Ching Shih soon assumed power, dealing with trade agreements and alliances, and becoming one of the most feared pirates in the South China Sea. She started in command of the so-called Red flag fleet, until she took the helm of over one thousand four hundred pirate ships, united by a solid alliance based on shared rules: she thus entered the history of the seas and navigation by right.

Marina Bulgari, known as the designer of jewels, expressed as much passion and expertise in the world of sailing, especially at a time - the 1970s - when being a woman shipowner was certainly not common. A Roman, she discovers the sea thanks to her husband Giorgio Spaccarelli, an officer in the Navy, and it is through this bond that she develops her interest in navigation. Under the command of Agostino Straulino in 1973, she won the One Ton Cup in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, a world-renowned regatta. The victory was historic because it was won by a female ship owner, but also because of a last-mile confrontation with the boat of a still unknown Douglas Peterson – a well-known American sailing yacht designer, who went on to win two editions of The America's Cup.

One of the most emblematic figures is certainly that of Dee Caffari, a British sailor who has marked the history of sailing with extraordinary achievements, such as the circumnavigation of the globe alone, non-stop, in 2006, even in what is referred to as the “wrong way”, to the west, completely against the wind and against the current. In 2009 she won the historic Vendée Globe regatta, where she set a new record: the first woman to sail around the world solo and non-stop. Her achievements have earned her awards and titles, and she has chosen to combine her sporting passion with her commitment to environmental protection.

One of the world's most celebrated sailors, Ellen MacArthur saw her career peak in 2005 with the world record for solo circumnavigation, completed in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds for 27,354 nautical miles travelled.  Through her results she certainly marked a turning point in the perception of women in sailing competitions, which has been consolidated by participation in numerous competitions. After retiring, she decided to found the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an organisation focused on promoting a circular economy and environmental sustainability.

In 173 years of America's Cup history, for the first time, there will be a dedicated women's event, the Puig Women's America's Cup, open to all female athletes. And between 5th and 13th October, the sailors of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli women's team will be taking to the water. The crew consists of: the helmswomen Giulia Conti, Margherita Porro and Maria Vittoria Marchesini, and the trimmers Giovanna Micol, Maria Giubilei, Giulia Fava and Alice Linussi.