Tracy Edwards: The Maiden Factor
Join Liberal Voice for Women in conversation with Tracy Edwards MBE
In 1990 Tracy created and skippered the first all-woman crew to sail around the world when they raced in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round The World Race. Maiden won two legs and came second overall. Tracy was awarded an MBE and became the first woman in its 34 year history to be awarded the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy.
Tracy attempted the non-stop round the world record in 1998 with the first all-female crew. Tracy and her team broke 7 world records. In 2000 she created and managed the world’s first mixed sex professional racing crew with Maiden II. The team broke the 24 hour record which became the fastest record in the world.
In 2017 she carried out a complete restoration of Maiden and so began a 90,000 mile three year word tour raising funds and awareness for girls’ education. In April 2024. Maiden completed her racing career by carrying the first all-female crew to ever win an around the world race. Maiden also carried the first black female crew and the first Afghan woman to ever sail/race around the world.
Tracy currently runs The Maiden Factor Foundation with the focus on getting girls into education with the ultimate aim of financial autonomy.