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Female Sailing Records

When I could not find a comprehensive list of female sailings firsts, I decided to compile one to celebrate women’s achievements! Please do contact me if you have any records to add or any comments.

Female Sailing Records

RecordsYachtFlagSkipper/SailorDetails
First Woman to sail around the world (with stops)Boudeuse and Étoile
French
Jeanne BaretDisguised as a man on Louis-Antoine de Bougainville's expedition from 1766 to 1769
First Woman to sail single-handed across the AtlanticFelicity Ann
British
Ann Davison1952 (Record)
First All-Female Crew to race around Britain and IrelandGulliver G
British
Claire Francis and Eve Bonham1974 (Two Handed)
First Woman to sail single-handed around the world (via Panama Canal) with one stopMazurek
Polish
Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz1976/78 (Record)
First Woman to sail single-handed around the world (via Cape Horn) with one stopExpress Crusader
British
Dame Naomi James1977/78 (Record)
First Woman to sail/race single handed around Cape HornExpress Crusader
British
Dame Naomi James1978 (Record)
First Woman to Skipper a WRTWR YachtADC Accutrac
British
Clare Francis1977/78 Whitbread Round the World Race
First Woman to sail single-handed (via Cape Horn) non-stop around the worldFirst Lady
Australian
Kay Cottee1988 (Record)
First Woman to race around the world on a MaxiAtlantic Privateer
USA
Tracy Edwards MBE1985/86 Whitbread Round the World Race
First All-Female Crew to sail/race around the worldMaiden
British
Tracy Edwards MBE1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race
First Woman to win the Route De RhumPierre 1
French
Florence ArthaudRoute de Rhum 1990
First Woman to race around the world single-handed non-stopPRB
French
Isabelle Autissier1996/97 Vendee Globe
First All-Female Crew to break the Channel RecordRoyal SunAlliance
British
Tracy Edwards MBECowes to Dinard 1998 – 6 hours, 49 minutes, and 19 seconds.  At an average speed of 22.7 knots this was the fastest record in the world (male or female) for a number of years.
First All-Female Crew to attempt the Jules VerneRoyal SunAlliance
British
Tracy Edwards MBENon-stop round the world record 1998
First Woman to complete the Vendee GlobeWhirlpool
French
Catherine ChabaudNon-stop round the world race 1996/97
First Women to win a non-stop around the world raceDoha 2006
British
Sharon Ferris Choat/ Karine FauconnierRacing aboard Doha 2006 in the 1985 Oryx Quest - Non-stop Doha to Doha via Cape Horn (Circumnavigation)
First Woman to sail single handed both ways around the worldAviva
British
Dee Caffari MBE2006 Westabout (first woman) - 2009 Vendee Globe (Eastabout)
First All-Female Crew to win an around the world raceMaiden
British
Heather Thomas2023/24 Ocean Globe Race
First Women of Colour to race around Cape HornMaiden
British
Heather ThomasVuyisile Jaca, Junella King, Maryama Seck - 2023/24 OGR
First Female Skipper to win the Trans PacRestless
USA
Ali Bell
First Female Skipper to win the Sydney HobartMin River JPK
Australian
Jiang LinFully Crewed Sydney to Hobart 2025 Overall Winner
First Woman to break the non-stop round the world record (Jules Verne)Cheyenne
USA
Adrienne CahalanAdrienne Cahalan was the Navigator on board Cheyenne (the only US winner of the round the world record was written out of French sporting history because they refused to pay the Jules Verne fee) when they broke Bruno Peyron's round the world record by 5 days in 2012! At 58 days, 9 hours, 32 minutes, 45 seconds that made Adrienne Cahalan the fastest women to circumnavigate the globe until bettered by Dona Bertarelli.
Fastest Woman to circumnavigate the globe in the Jules VerneSpindrift2
French
Dona BertarelliDona Bertarelli the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe whilst competing in the Jules Verne (45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds, sailing around the world nonstop for 29,002 miles at an average speed of 26.51 knots). She just missed out on the outright non-stop round the world record by 2 days.
First All-Female Crew to complete the Jules Verne

Women who have sailed around the world non-stop

NamesPosition
Kay CotteeSingle-handed
Isabelle AutissierSingle-handed
Catherin ChabaudSingle-handed
Ellen McArthurSingle-handed
Emma RichardsSingle-handed
Anne LiardetSingle-handed
Karen LeibowitzSingle-handed
Dee CaffariSingle-handed
Sam DaviesSingle-handed
Miranda MerronSingle-handed
Justine MettrauxSingle-handed
Clarisse CremerSingle-handed
Pip HareSingle-handed
Isabelle JoschkeSingle-handed
Alexia BarrierSingle-handed
Violette DorangeSingle-handed
Kirsten NeuschäferSingle-handed
Laura DekkerSingle-handed
Cole BreuerSingle-handed
Jeanne SocratesSingle-handed
Sharon Frerris-ChoatDoha 2006
Karine FauconnierDoha 2006
Adrienne CahalanNavigator - Cheyenne
Dona BertarelliCrew - Spindrift
Maiden CrewRoyal SunAlliance Crew
Tracy EdwardsTracy Edwards
Mikaela Von KoskullAdrienne Cahalan
Dawn RileyMikaela Von Koskul
Jeni MundySamantha Davies
Claire Warren (Russel)Emma Westmacott
Joanna GoodingMiranda Merron
Michele ParetEmma Sanderson (Richards)
Nancy HillFrederique Brule
Sally Hunter (Creaser)Hannah Hartshorn (Harwood)
Tanja VisserHelena Darvelid
Angela HeathSharon Frerris  Choat
Mandy Swan
Sarah Davies