Drawing on nearly 2 500 responses from 68 countries, and supported by independent academic analysis, the report reveals a complex reality: progress is visible at the top of the sport, but the day-to-day experience for many still lags behind.
83% of respondents believe female representation in sailing has improved over the past five years. Women are increasingly visible in elite competitions and leadership roles across the sport.
Yet the findings also highlight significant structural and cultural barriers that remain:
- 65% report experiencing discrimination
- Over 85% of women report experiencing sexism
- Nearly 60% say they have had to adapt their behaviour to feel accepted
- Almost half of respondents are unaware of reporting structures for harassment or abuse
- Nearly 60% of women do not believe sailing clubs are inclusive
“The 2×25 Review delivers an uncomfortable truth. The look and feel of our sport is changing, but the lived experience for too many people within it is not.” said Victoria Low, CEO of The Magenta Project. “We’ve seen women compete in the America’s Cup, lead Vendée Globe campaigns and shape SailGP teams. These moments matter. But our data shows this progress has not yet reached the clubs, the pathways, or the day-to-day culture that shapes whether someone enters our sport, stays, and thrives.”
Michelle Carnevale, President of 11th Hour Racing, said:
“For over a decade, 11th Hour Racing has backed efforts to make sailing more welcoming and accessible. We’ve seen first-hand that when you remove barriers and create real opportunities, the entire sport becomes stronger, more innovative, and more resilient. The 2×25 Review confirms what we have long believed: you can’t fix what you don’t measure. This honest look at where the industry stands today gives us something we can hold ourselves accountable to. Our hope is that this isn’t an endpoint, but a starting line.”
Beyond highlighting the gaps, the report outlines a framework for action across key areas including leadership access, mentoring, safeguarding, funding structures and accountability.
Beyond highlighting the challenges, the Review sets out a clear framework for action.
Key priorities include:
- Tie funding to inclusion. Require clubs and federations to demonstrate inclusive practice as a condition of funding or affiliation
- Fix the pay gap at source. Introduce transparent, standardised pay structures and appointment criteria across the sport
- Go beyond entry-level programmes. Embed structured mentoring and sponsorship that supports women through mid-career stages, not just at the start
- Redesign pathways for modern lives. Make progression routes flexible and compatible with caring responsibilities
- Measure what matters. Shift from representation-focused metrics to indicators of belonging, retention and progression, and require federations to publish this data
Rather than serving as criticism, the Review positions itself as an invitation to lead, calling on clubs, organisations and industry stakeholders to turn progress in representation into lasting cultural change.
The release comes ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, reinforcing the ongoing push for greater equity and inclusion across sailing and the marine sector.
