Gender Diversity and Innovation in SailGP: A New Era for Women’s Sports
SailGP, co-founded by Oracle’s Larry Ellison and sailing champion Russell Coutts in 2018, is leading a transformative wave in sports by emphasizing gender equity and inclusion. This international sailing league showcases 12 teams racing in high-speed F50 catamarans, similar to Formula 1 but on water, managing to attract a diverse and growing audience.
The Rise of Women in Professional Sports
The increasing popularity of women’s sports has catalyzed a shift in how professional leagues are structured. SailGP, along with initiatives like the F1 Academy, is protecting the representation of female athletes while also attracting a diverse fan base. Data from Nielsen Sports indicates that women aged 16 to 24 represent the fastest-growing demographic within the F1 fan category, now comprising 41% of the audience.
Sports where physical strength is less of a determining factor, such as sailing, have opened doors for gender-integrated competition. Currently, male and female athletes are racing together in leagues like the United Pickleball Association and the Global Mixed Gender Basketball league, further blurring the lines of traditional gender roles in sports.
SailGP’s Commitment to Inclusivity
Although gender diversity was not a founding principle of SailGP, Coutts noted an inherent value in merging competition with inclusivity. The league’s core objective is to cultivate a compelling competitive scene. “We believe that male and female athletes can compete at the top of our sport against each other and with each other,” Coutts remarked.
To address the historical absence of female sailors in the sport, SailGP initiated programs tailored for talent development. Notable among these is the Women’s Performance Camp, which was recently held in Dubai and marked the largest on-water training event for female sailors to date.
Gender Equity Initiatives in SailGP
To bolster gender representation, SailGP mandates that each team has at least one female athlete on board during races. The league aims to have a minimum of two women in key roles—driver, strategist, wing trimmer, and flight controller—within the next five years. This initiative underscores their commitment to gender equity, setting an industry benchmark for inclusion.
In addition to on-water initiatives, SailGP has developed an Impact League that ranks teams based on their efforts in promoting environmental sustainability and accessibility in sailing. Leading the Impact League, the Canadian team has demonstrated excellence in creating training opportunities and camps for budding sailors.
Empowering Women in Leadership
Off the water, SailGP is also focusing on increasing female representation in its leadership structure. Currently, 43% of executive positions are held by women, a notable rise from 14% in 2021. Comparatively, women hold 29% of C-suite roles in Fortune 500 companies according to the McKinsey Women in the Workplace report. The organization has initiated various programs aimed at training and elevating women in technology, operations, and boat-building roles.
Additionally, with the introduction of an apprenticeship training scheme, SailGP aims to create a balanced pipeline of talent within its operational ranks. The program incorporates equal representation by accepting four males and four females annually.
M milestones in Female Leadership
In a significant leap for gender representation, Martine Grael, a two-time Olympic champion, has become SailGP’s first female driver for the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team. Since joining, she has successfully led the team and is competing fiercely against other established teams like the USA and Germany.
During her career, Grael has become a role model for aspiring female sailors, challenging traditional notions about women’s capabilities in sailing. “Some guys have failed to understand that a girl is very much capable of doing the same role they’re doing,” she stated, highlighting the capabilities of women in competitive sports.
Attracting a New Fanbase
SailGP’s inclusive approach is attracting broader audiences. At the recent New Zealand Championships, over half of ticket holders were female, illustrating a significant demographic shift in viewers. This new interest highlights an untapped market of young fans—particularly females—looking to be engaged in sports characterized by extreme competition and a commitment to sustainability.
Collaborations with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Rolex demonstrate the growing recognition of gender equity’s importance in sponsorship within sports. “I don’t think many brands nowadays will go into sponsorship that doesn’t have diversity or equity at some point in it,” noted SailGP Chief Purpose Officer Fiona Morgan.
SailGP continues to forge a path toward promoting gender equality, and its various initiatives not only aim to elevate female athletes but also change perceptions within the world of competitive sports, opening doors for future generations.
