NEWPORT, R.I. — The Volvo Ocean Race finished on Sunday, and for the first time since the round-the-world sailing event began in 1973, a woman was part of the winning crew.
Three women, in fact.
By winning the remarkably close final leg, from Gothenburg, Sweden to The Hague in the Netherlands, Dongfeng Race Team won the overall race for the first time, with Carolijn Brouwer, Marie Riou and Justine Mettraux part of the crew.
All seven teams had at least two women on their crew lists, which is a sea change from the past, when women were often consigned to all-female crews or did not sail in the race at all.