An all-female crew, "The Famous Project," led by French sailor Alexia Barrier and British co-skipper Dee Caffari, completed a 57-day, 22-hour, and 20-minute voyage, crossing the finish line of the Jules Verne Trophy. This historic achievement marked the first time an all-women team sailed nonstop around the world on a maxi trimaran, a high-performance yacht. Their mission extended beyond the sporting challenge, aiming to prove women's capabilities in the tough, prestigious race and create opportunities in the male-dominated sport of ocean racing.
The project faced substantial financial hurdles. Barrier secured CIC Bank as a sponsor and took out a €1.4 million loan, setting a funding target of €3 million per year over three years, which was never met. They borrowed a 20-year-old 103ft maxi trimaran from Idec Sport, a stark contrast to competitors like Sodebo Ultim 3, which was three years old and had a campaign budget of approximately €25 million over three years. Crew members were paid €350-€500 a day, while Barrier received no salary, significantly less than the €1,200 to €1,500 daily rates on established male-led campaigns.
Despite the challenges, the crew made significant strides in challenging perceptions. Before this voyage, only one woman, Dona Bertarelli, had completed the Jules Verne Trophy. The Famous Project increased the number of women who have rounded Cape Horn on a multihull from three to eleven. Both Caffari and Barrier acknowledged the need for incentives to increase female participation, describing it as essential for inclusion, though they also expressed a desire to avoid being seen as token participants. They emphasized that the true test of inclusion lies in whether women are given meaningful roles, such as trimming sails.
