The Maiden’s all-female crew aims to inspire as ship sails into Saint John
An ocean-racing yacht boasting an all-female crew is making her only Canadian stop in Saint John, N.B.
The eight-woman crew is sailing the high seas for adventure and to inspire other women and girls.
The Maiden is currently in the middle of her three-year tour.
The female crew members work hard not only sailing the ship, but in spreading their message as they aim to inspire more women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“We’re trying to raise awareness to equal access to education and promote girls into subjects or to stay in them, because when they come to a certain age, they tend to shy away from STEM subjects and it becomes a male-dominated subject,” says Liz Wardley, skipper of the Maiden.
The eight sailors come from all over the world. Junella King, of Antigua, has advanced from apprentice to crew member.
“On board just sailing, being with a lot of experienced sailors, that’s the advantage of this job,” King said.
For fellow crew member Marie Ostrand, it’s her first time sailing with any female colleagues at all.
“Most of the boats I’ve sailed on in the past have been predominantly male-dominated crews, which has been great and there’s nothing wrong with that, but there’s definitely something different about being on an all-female crew,” Ostrand said.
While there are few challenges the crew can’t handle, the motion of the ocean is a different story.
“I do get seasick,” King admits. “That’s the biggest challenge so far.”
For Wardley, the most difficult part is keeping the vessel on schedule.
“We kind of always need to be somewhere. Making that happen, all the logistics around it, the boat, the crew, the tides, the weather, just trying to juggle everything and at the same time, have fun.”
The 58-foot Maiden will remain docked in Saint John for another week before heading to New York.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.