I was closing in on the last segment of my High school year when this story started gathering momentum.
I'd started sailing a year or two before; only dinghies on a local reservoir. Not that learning to sail in and around a small village on the outskirts of Manchester was something common, and certainly not something your school friends really wanted to talk about when they were all obsessed with football. I'd rather don a wetsuit and go get wet sailing Toppers and enjoying the single challenge of sailing than talk about or play football.
When this story really gathered speed though and started getting a lot of media attention it was like a hobby I alone enjoyed was suddenly becoming a huge topic at school.
It was that big of a deal.
Tracy Edwards is an amazing human being and did something phenomenal.
Showed the world "Telling me no isn't acceptable". I looked up to her and admired her as a teenager and that message stuck with me till this day and still motivates me. Having watched this film, more so now as a grown man.
She was a large part of the reason years later when given the chance to sail on yachts. I didn't flinch; I signed up and went for it. Even making sure I pushed others out of the way to ensure I got to crew and they didn't.
(I was in the Army and a lot of more senior guys were signing up for a course to sail around the Greek islands and none of them had sailed before but were trying to pull seniority as they saw it as a fun holiday and an easy 2 weeks fun in the sun - So I made sure the fact I had sailed before and crewed on a 37 foot yacht was a better reason to get a ride than give it to someone who had no idea what was involved other than sunbathing and pretending they were in a Duran Duran video. Worked out well as when we sailed out from Cyprus it was into force 6 gales for 4 days and I enjoyed every moment of it while others were wishing they were dead and crying for someone to kill them as they were terrified and also sea sick.)
I eventually got to crew on a 55 foot Nicholson Yacht which had won stages of the Whitbread previously before it had been bought and taken on by the Armed Forces. Stepping aboard that Nic55 was one of the highlights of my life because I felt the history of it and knew what it had been through.
So I thought till I watched this film.
This is a well put together film using archive footage and personal memories.
Openly and frankly discussed with hearts and soul shown to the world.
I'll avoid going into detail about the events as it's worth seeing the story unfold if you do not know much about it.
It clearly shows also how much the world needed to change and the Maiden crew certainly did that, and rightly so. These ladies had everything to prove and they just got on with their jobs regardless of how much they were being looked down upon and slated.
Not a fan of sailing, watch it anyway.
It has drama and heartbreaks, smiles and tears of joy. Tragedy and elation in equal amounts. Without the whimsy and fluff often contained in "Sports films".
Most of all though; it's about doing what people tell you that you cannot do. The underlying message isn't hidden nor shied away from.
If you want it bad enough and are prepared to play for all the marbles, you might just surprise yourself and send a ripple around the world.
The fact the Maiden crew did what 95% of the sailing world considered impossible is amazing enough. Against the odds all the crews faced and under the immense stress and pressure of being the first all female crew and being snubbed and snobbed over is simply inspiring to not just females. Though of course this story is hinged on that part. It's not hung up on it. Which is what makes this film so great.
It's a heartfelt journey of adversity and epic trials. Sailing around the world on a yacht is not easy and it is bloody dangerous.
It raises many questions, but also shows what happens when you raise your middle finger to the world and state "I will do this".
So many people had to eat humble pie due to what the Maiden crew did and some of them were huge names in the sailing world or very famous.
While the Brits are known for the underdog spirit, there is a reason; people like Tracy Edwards and the rest of the Maiden crew.
You have to watch this till the end though; just to see how much Maiden changed the world and thinking. It's a very emotional and moving climax and highly unexpected.
I've rated this 10/10 because it really did deliver what I expected and then added multiple layers on top.
Don't be surprised if Hollywood jumps on this and does a theatrical version based on it.
Hail Maiden, hail to Tracy Edwards and the crew who sailed on her. Thanks for being such an inspiration and giving me real life heroes to cheer for. I may not have gone on to crew in competition on yachts and sailed the world; I did get to sail on some lovely yachts and visit some exotic places though and in large part to you and this story unfolding when it did.
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