MAIDEN
“In 1989, the very idea of a competitive all female sailing crew was nearly inconceivable to the manly world of open-ocean yacht racing.”
Directed by Alex Holmes | A New Black Films Production
Featuring Tracy Edwards
Running Time: 93 minutes.
Synopsis
In 1989, the very idea of a competitive all female sailing crew was nearly inconceivable to the manly world of open-ocean yacht racing. They’d never make it to the start of the Whitbread Round the World Race, much less survive to the finish. They’d never find funding. They didn’t have the strength or skill. They’d die at sea. Did that many professional female sailors even exist?
Tracy Edwards proved them wrong. 26-year-old skipper Edwards, her second-hand racing yacht Maiden, and her seasoned crew not only became the first-ever all female sailing crew challenge to the Whitbread, they proved able competitors in the famously grueling race, besting male crews in their class. By the time they returned to their starting point at Southampton, England after 32,000 miles of global racing, Maiden’s all female sailing crew had shocked, inspired, and transfixed the sailing world and the British nation. Tracy Edwards was awarded the 1990 Yachtsman of the Year Award, the first woman ever to receive the accolade, and was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
—Read the Full Background Including Crew Bios and Current MAIDEN Initiative—
Director’s Statement
Maiden is one of those inspirational stories that, once heard, you are unlikely to forget. And so it was for me. My first encounter with Tracy Edwards was when she came to give a speech at my daughter’s elementary school. I was struck not only by the power of the story but by Tracy’s passion and commitment. And I knew straight away that I wanted to make a film that celebrated her achievement. Four years later I am delighted to be able to say: here we are.
Maiden is a film about guts and the power of determination, about how when we are allowed to believe in ourselves great things are possible. It’s the story of a young girl who dared to dream and of a team that came together to challenge chauvinism and set an example to the world. Tracy’s story is as relevant today as it was back when she and her crew completed their momentous journey. In many areas of life prejudice and chauvinism still hold sway, but hopefully this film will help remind us that whoever we are, male or female, we should chase our dreams even if it appears we are up against insurmountable odds.
Alex Holmes
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