FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

‘MAIDEN’ CONTINUES ON HER WORLDWIDE VOYAGE FROM SEATTLE TO SAN FRANCISCO TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE THAT EVERY GIRL HAS A RIGHT TO EDUCATION
 

“Maiden changed my life and now she can help change the lives of girls who are not in education.”  – Tracy Edwards MBE
 

Maiden is expected to arrive in San Francisco on 19 August 2019 

Maiden will then depart San Francisco for Los Angeles on 30 August 2019

The Maiden Factor World Tour began in November 2018 and will end in May 2021 - a two and a half year worldwide tour to promote female learning

Nearly 30 years ago, Tracy Edwards MBE sailed into the record books on Maiden with the first all-female crew in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race. ​Maiden and her glass shattering crew paved the way for women, particularly those in the world of yachting. After the race, Maiden was found abandoned and rotting in the Seychelles. Tracy Edwards MBE worked tirelessly to return ​Maiden back to the UK; the boat has since undergone an extensive refit and restored to her former glory. Now, Maiden is sailing again and on a new mission to raise awareness and funds for girls’ education around the globe. 

The project sees the iconic yacht, Maiden, circumnavigating the globe on a two and a half year worldwide tour across 30 destinations, covering over 60,000 nautical miles. Maiden left the UK in November 2018 and has subsequently stopped over in; Sri Lanka, Fremantle, Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, Vancouver, Seattle, on The Maiden Factor World tour. The Maiden Factor today announces that Maiden will arrive into the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco on 19 August 2019 and will depart on her journey to Los Angeles on 30 August 2019. 

Maiden is sailed by an all-female crew again and currently skippered by Wendy Tuck (Australia), the first female skipper to win a round-the-world yacht race, winning the Clipper Race last year. Other permanent crew members include: Belinda Henry (Australia), Matilda Ajanko (Finland) and Amalia Infante (Spain) and Courtney Koos (USA). Gabriela Amato and Lauren Strand, ‘mile builders’, female sailors who want more experience and miles to progress their careers and opportunities in sailing, will also be part of the crew together with ‘guest’ sailors, Danae Hollowed and Mackenzie Marmol, who have paid for their places with the monies going directly to The Maiden Factor Foundation charity.

For further information, please visit: www.themaidenfactor.org

While in San Francisco, there will be a number of opportunities to see Maiden and meet the crew, including an open day to meet the crew and tour the iconic yacht. There will also be a screening of  the Maiden film in partnership with the Women Sports Film Festival. Original Maiden crew members, Angela Heath and Jo Gooding, will be attending this screening and participating in a Q+A afterwards. Maiden will then depart San Francisco on 30 August 2019 for the 369 mile voyage to Los Angeles, with an estimated 2 days at sea. 

Film: Maiden’s story has also been captured in the documentary film, Maiden. The film tells the incredible, against-all-odds story of school drop-out Tracy Edwards MBE, who skippered the first all-female international crew in the 1989 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. ​The film is directed by Alex Holmes and produced by Victoria Gregory & Alex Holmes. Trailer HERE.

Assets:
Maiden Film Images: HERE
Crew Headshots: HERE
Trailer: HERE

Social Media:
Website: https://maiden.film | https://www.themaidenfactor.org
Hashtag: #MaidenFilm 
Tracy Edwards: @TracyEdwardsMBE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maidenfilm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maidenfilm

Tracy Edwards MBE:
Tracy made history in 1989/90 as Skipper of the first all-female team to compete in the Whitbread Round The World Race. Her accomplishment was recognized by the Queen when she was awarded the MBE. She also became the first woman to be awarded the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy. www.themaidenfactor.org

Angela Heath (original 1989-90 crew member):
Angela continued to work in various administration roles until 1994 when she became a mum of two boys. From 2001 to 2006, Angela worked as Office Manager in Viking Marine, Clothing & Marine Specialists, Dun Laoghaire. A change in career direction led her to join in the setting up of a new GP practice. She remained in the medical industry until early 2017.