Celebrity Interview: Tracy Edwards MBE

Tracy skippered the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, becoming the first woman to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy.

In 1990 Tracy was awarded Sportswoman of the Year and an MBE. She was the first woman to achieve acceptance by the British yachting community and paved the way for other women, notably Dawn Riley and Ellen MacArthur to follow.

At 11am on 28th May 1990 Maiden crossed the finish line in second place overall and sailed into the record books. In this the 25th anniversary Tracy has set up the Maiden Rescue Campaign to rescue Maiden from the Indian Ocean where she has been left to languish in a state of disrepair and bring her home to the UK where she belongs.

Where’s the most memorable place you’ve enjoyed a Glass of Bubbly?
Going round Cape Horn whilst skippering Maiden the first all-female crew to sail around the world when we raced in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race). I had first sailed around Cape Horn four years previously with an all-male crew and we had a tot of Rum each.

But with a crew of Ladies a bottle of  Piper-Heidsieck Champagne (hidden on board by the Shore Team for the occasion) seemed very fitting. We were literally making history and although there was no-one there to see us go round this legendary and fearsome outcrop of land, except an Albatross and a few seals, we raised a toast of bubbly to King Neptune and thanked him for letting us pass.

Which is your favourite Champagne/Sparkling wine?
It has to be Piper-Heidsieck!

What does Champagne mean to you?
A: Success
B: Celebration
C: Romance
D: Enjoying great company

www.maidenrescue.org
www.tracyedwards.com
@TracyEdwardsMBE