The Queen hosted the ‘Maiden’ yacht crew at Clarence House

The Queen hosted the ‘Maiden’ yacht crew to congratulate them on their unprecedented win of the Ocean Globe Race, becoming the first ever all-female crew to win an around-the-world yacht race, at Clarence House. 

The 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race (OGR) is a fully crewed, retro race, in the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, marking the 50th anniversary of the original event. Racing without computers, GPS, and high-tech materials, they navigate with sextants and paper charts.

The 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race saw 14 boats set sail from Cowes for the journey of over 27,000 nautical miles, spanning four legs via three great Capes - starting and ending in the UK with stops in South Africa, New Zealand, and Uruguay. This year’s Race marks the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread Round the World Race.

Three decades ago, skipper Tracy Edwards MBE and her all-female crew finished second – winning two of the six legs – in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race aboard the 58ft Maiden yacht. The crew were the first all-female team to take part in an around-the-world yacht race.

In 2018, the yacht was repurposed for a world tour to raise awareness and funds for girls' education. Ahead of its departure, The King and Queen, as The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, visited the refurbished boat with HRH Princess Haya, who facilitated the refurbishment of the yacht.

In September 2023, initiated by Tracy Edwards, Maiden embarked on the Ocean Globe Race with the most diverse professional sailing crew ever to sail the world. Hailing from the UK, Antigua, USA, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Italy, France and Afghanistan, the crew includes the first black female crew and the first Middle Eastern female crew to race around the world – helping to reflect and celebrate the people, traditions, values and beliefs of the cultures on their 28,000-mile marathon around the world.

This month, following over 153 days at sea, Maiden made history again becoming the first all-female team to win an around-the-world yacht race.

Before the team set sail in September 2023, The Queen sent a message of encouragement and good luck to the crew:

You are all much in my thoughts today, as you cross the start line of the Ocean Globe Race for Maiden’s final race. I do hope that each one of you is proud to be part of such a special crew, bringing Messages of Hope to girls across the world. I wish you fair winds and following seas!

Camilla R.