Maiden, the Movie. Maiden, the boat will be in Seattle.

Go see the movie “Maiden.” Take your daughters. Just as importantly, take your sons.

The movie shows just what it took for Tracy Edwards, impressive and flawed as she was, to get the first female round the world crewed boat to both the start and finish lines of the Whibread Round the World Race in 1989-90. By the end of the movie, it’s pretty clear how much force of will it took for Edwards to overcome the inertia, and, yes, resistance to fielding an all-woman entry.

I’m lucky. I grew up sailing where a woman (my mom) was an indispensible part of the crew. When a rock star was signed up on the crew and suggested they dump my mom, the crew said, “No Enid, no us.” When we couldn’t get our C&C 27 out of its own way, my dad asked for help from Judy Nye (yes that Nye, and if you don’t know the name, Google Murphy and Nye) The best helmsmen I’ve ever sailed with were women. And yes, I’m aware of the irony of that statement.

Basically, those women were sailors, just as men onboard were sailors. As were the women on Tracy Edwards’ crew. But they were taking on the professional men on the water and jaded journalists on shore. They had to overcome a lot of preconceptions.

I wasn’t there, but I doubt there was a lot of intentional “hold the women down” Neanderthals among the male sailors. I’m guessing those male sailors felt they were the best, and didn’t give much credence to anyone crashing into their world. And it seems some of them, notably and not surprisingly Steinlager II skipper Peter Blake, did more than their share to help them along.

Back to the movie. It does a great job painting the picture of Tracy Edwards, an overwhelmed 20-something year old that grabbed on to the Whitbread like a lioness, and wouldn’t let go. She’d be the first to admit lack of experience going into the race. But that didn’t stop her. It showed the thrill of victory and agony of defeat, as the saying goes. But as Maiden crossed the finish line, the footage shows just what it meant to the world. You’d be a fool not to feel it too sitting in the audience.

No sailing movie is perfect, and few even rate OK in my book. But “Maiden” is very good. I wanted to hear more about the actual sailing and more backstories of the crew, but there simply wasn’t the time. Also, sailing an old IOR warhorse around the world was a lot more physically demanding than the movie showed. One of the things that could have easily been pointed out, was that the staggering performance of Steinlager II was the main show of the Whitbread that year. Had it not been for that, no doubt the Maiden team would have gotten even more notoriety.

My wife was amazed that after that performance by the women, more women aren’t sailing at the top level. It is surprising, in a way. In fact, the organizing authorities had to allow extra crew (an advantage) to encourage racers to include women on the crew in the last round the world race. Unfortunately, there are few boats racing at that level, and more qualified male racers all the time. The pickings are slim for anyone to crack into the top echelon.

Hey, the US women’s soccer team has won the World Cup four times and is still seeking the appropriate level of respect.

The actual boat Maiden will be in Seattle in a couple of days, and the boat will be open for tours on the 13^th. Maiden is the centerpiece of a the fundraising project “The Maiden Factor” which is raising fund for girls’ education. There will be a program at Corinthian Yacht Club that night, though tickets are sold out. Schelleen Rathkopf (Whidbey/Pt. Roberts Race Week Poo-bah) is on the Vancouver BC-Seattle WA delivery.