audrey, 8 november 2024

On 4 November, just 6 days before the start of the Vendée Globe, the IMOCA class gathered its partners in Les Sables d’Olonne to rethink and shape the future of women in ocean racing. It was an opportunity to talk to Claire Vayer, co-manager of sustainable development within the IMOCA class, and to look back on the collaboration with The Magenta Project, the actions already taken and the obstacles still to be overcome.

Claire, can you tell us more about the collaboration with The Magenta Project ?

IMOCA and The Magenta Project have joined forces with the shared goal of fostering greater diversity and inclusion in the sailing industry. We are pleased to report that this initiative commenced in 2022. In keeping with the values of a sport that is based on sharing and openness, we are working together with the aim of achieving greater inclusion in our discipline. This partnership has led to the creation of several initiatives and programmes, which have been designed with the intention of providing women with valuable experiences and networking opportunities, with the ultimate goal of supporting their careers in the professional ocean racing industry. Since 2022, at each major race, The Magenta Project has had the pleasure of collaborating with the IMOCA class on a number of initiatives, including networking events, team pairings (hosting of young women by teams to experience the period leading up to the start of the race), technical visits, private seminars, and more.

And what is the FLDP ?

The Female Leadership Development Programme (FLDP) is a joint initiative between IMOCA and The Magenta Project. It was launched in response to a shared commitment to address the under-representation of women in ocean racing, particularly in leadership roles. While there has been an encouraging increase in the number of women in various positions within the industry, there is still a limited number of leadership opportunities, particularly in technical and sailing roles. This has highlighted the need for a dedicated programme to empower and equip women with the necessary skills and experience to thrive in leadership roles. An intensive four-week course is offered within an IMOCA team, covering essential skills for leadership positions in key roles in the sport, such as skipper, boat captain/technical director, or team manager.

What does this diversity bring to the IMOCA class ?

I believe it is a valuable resource for the teams, who have taken the initiative to embrace greater diversity. I often receive requests from teams seeking women’s profiles, indicating a need for more accessible CVs. Our aim is to foster a vibrant community around the Magenta Project (an English-speaking initiative with growing presence in France), by fostering connections between teams and women seeking to enhance their professional skills.

What are the main challenges and obstacles currently preventing women from taking up leadership positions in ocean racing ?

There is still some way to go before we can say that all the obstacles have been overcome. It would be beneficial to see more female role models and mentors in ocean racing, with more women in leadership roles and technical positions. Additionally, there is a lack of access to professional ocean racing networks, which are highly specialised and still dominated by men. We must acknowledge that today, we are still faced with prejudices and stereotypes about women’s abilities in demanding environments such as ocean racing. These can create barriers to their progress. Certain beliefs about their physical capacity or their ability to manage stress at sea can reduce their chances of obtaining key roles. We must also consider the difficulty of integrating maternity into a professional sporting career. This can make it difficult for women to project this passage into the future, as well as manage a post-maternity recovery.

Is sailing up to scratch in terms of inclusion ?

I believe that the IMOCA class, as an elite sport, strives to set high standards. I believe it is worth noting that 50% of the team managers are women, and 15% of the skippers are women. If we compare this to the Fortune 500 companies in France, which have 13% women at the top, we are at a similar level, if not just above, in terms of female leadership in the business world. However, there is always room for improvement, and programmes are in place with the Magenta project to help develop more talent to achieve a high level of equitable representation in all roles. It would also be beneficial to consider 100% mixed-race events, such as the Transat Paprec in the Figaro or the Plastimo in the Mini, as a way of changing attitudes right from the start of skippers’ careers.

To find out more about The Magenta Project : www.themagentaproject.org

Photo credit : Flore Hartout – polaRYSE

Competitive Sailing Imoca inclusion Offshore racing