A new partnership between The Magenta Project and ClubSwan Racing will create a pathway for women into elite performance sailing, by fielding two all-female teams in the ClubSwan 36 at four Nations League events this season.
The Magenta Project, a leading charitable organisation established to ensure greater equity and inclusion for women in sailing and the wider marine industry, is establishing a landmark partnership with ClubSwan Racing, as part of the ClubSwan Academy, to develop and support an all-female crew programme within the ClubSwan Racing Nations League.
Expanding pathways for female sailors across classes and regions
The programme, which launches this week, will field an all-female team in the ClubSwan 36 class, providing elite racing experience at the highest level of one-design competition.
For the subsequent events in the Nations League series, The Magenta Project aims to field two teams, creating a broader pathway for women into high-performance racing.
The Magenta Project will also be fielding a team in the ClubSwan 28 in Pensacola, US, as part of the test regatta for the new class in the United States.
The partnership is supported by the ClubSwan Academy, Nautor Swan’s development and educational programme, and forms part of the celebrations marking Nautor Swan’s 60th anniversary – a milestone that the two organisations are marking with a commitment to shaping the next 60 years of sailing as much as celebrating the last.
Addressing the experience gap in professional sailing
The Magenta Project’s 2×25 Review, conducted with 2,500 respondents from 68 countries, is the most comprehensive study of gender equity in sailing ever undertaken. As reported by MIN, the study found that the 29 per cent pay gap in professional sailing exists not because of unequal pay, but because women lack access to high-level roles and elite racing experience.
A statement from the Magenta Project reads: “This partnership with ClubSwan Racing is exactly the kind of structural change that our sport needs. Elite racing experience is the currency of professional sailing, and for too long women have been locked out of it – not through lack of talent or ambition, but through lack of opportunity. We are proud to be working with ClubSwan Racing and Nautor Swan to change that, and to be doing so in a class that represents the very best of one-design racing.
“The response from The Magenta Project community has been extraordinary, and I would like to thank the exceptional group of sailors who gave their time and expertise to support the selection process: Abby Ehler, Sara Stone, Josie Gliddon, Elodie-Jane Mettraux, Annie Lush, and Dee Caffari. I would also like to thank the enthusiasm and vision of ClubSwan Racing – in particular, Luisa Bambozzi and Ottavia Raggio – as well as the wider ClubSwan and Nautor Swan team. We are excited to see this programme develop and grow female participation in this leading racing class and circuit.”
Giovanni Pomati, Nautor Swan CEO, comments: “The ClubSwan Academy is an educational programme launched by Nautor Swan in 2023, rooted in the belief that sailing is not only a sport, but also a passion that shapes lives. It fosters respect for others through true teamwork, while instilling a deep appreciation for the sea and the environment.
“We began by engaging the youngest sailors through yacht clubs, and now, with the Magenta Project, we are placing a strong focus on women’s empowerment – highlighting how sailing can be truly inclusive and how women have played a significant role throughout our 60-year history.
“We believe there is no better way to celebrate this important milestone than by looking ahead and investing in such a meaningful social programme.”
Luisa Bambozzi, general manager of ClubSwan, adds: “As a woman who has been involved in the sailing world for over 20 years, I strongly believe in this partnership, which is fully aligned with the goal of empowering women in the nautical industry – a principle that has always been part of Nautor’s DNA. This commitment is reflected not only within the teams at Nautor Swan HQ and ClubSwan, but also in the shipyard and within Nautor Swan Global Service.
“I also strongly believe in the value of this synergy: offering a dedicated service to new female owners by combining ClubSwan Racing’s ‘ready to sail’ approach with Magenta’s ability to create and support new teams through their outstanding mentors and coaches.”
Strong demand highlights depth of female talent pool
The all-female crew for the opening Nations League event in Bonifacio, Corsica, has been selected from a pool of over 37 applicants, reflecting the depth of talent and appetite for this kind of opportunity among women in the sport. The crew will be skippered by Belinda Henry (AUS), with Anna Weinzieher (POL) as deputy. Five other women have also been given an opportunity to trial on a second ClubSwan 36 as part of the ClubSwan Academy.
ClubSwan Racing is the owner’s racing division of Nautor Swan sailing brand. The ClubSwan Racing Nations League brings together Swan owners and crews from around the world in a series of one-design regattas across some of sailing’s most celebrated venues.
Crew lists
ClubSwan 36, Bonifacio: Team Magenta: Belinda Henry (AUS), Anna Weinzieher (POL), Chantal Ferrero (ARG), Beatrice Fenu (ITA), Megan Gimple (USA), Lucille Frascari (ITA), Sophie Thom (GBR), Julia Staite (GBR).
ClubSwan Academy 36, Bonifacio, trialists: Alicia Biggs (GBR), Phoebe Chalmers (CAN), Shona Gibson (IRE), Manca Gostič (SLO), Ella Boxall (GBR).
ClubSwan 28, Pensacola: Lena Weißkichel (GER), Alexandra Lauber (GER), Emma Janson (USA), Savannah Taylor (CAN), Megan Bowling (USA).
The Magent Project runs an annual mentoring project – in October 2025 the organisation announced its 10th year of the programme and the largest and most diverse group of participants to date.
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