All female Jules Verne bid

Vendée Globe skipper Alexia Barrier is putting together a campaign to create an all-female Jules Verne Trophy crew.

Known as The Famous Project, the campaign has secured the commitment of many top-flight female offshore racers, including Marie Riou, who was part of the Dongfeng-winning Volvo Ocean Race team, American offshore sailor, and mountaineer Sara Hastreiter, and Dee Caffari.

The last all-female attempt at the non-stop crewed around the world record was in 1998, when Tracy Edwards entered with Royal Sun Alliance and an all-female crew that included Sam Davies, Emma Westmacott, Miranda Merron, Emma Richards, and Helena Darvelid. They were forced to abandon, however, after dismasting in the Pacific Ocean.