Stars to Steer By

The extraordinary stories of the fearless women who set their sights on the sea in an all-male world, and paved the way for the female sailing superstars of today.

Acknowledgements

Introduction: Pink Shorts: Women overlooked

1 In the shade of one's own hat brim
Circumnavigating for pleasure

2 My mother sewed constantly
Invisible women at sea

3 Blue gauze veils are useful but not ornamental
New designs for 'New Women'

4 The coiffure harks back to primitive simplicity
Outdoor women

5 My red skirt was to be the signal
Independent Irish women

6 We don't want any petticoats here
Pioneering women in the First World War

7 Winter Shoes in Springtime
Overcoming trauma

8 Fed up with this skirt nonsense
Post-war pioneers and fickle yacht owners

9 Clothes not fit for a girl to wear
Sailing on the last of the grain ships

10 Elastic-waisted blue serge skirts
Pleasure sailors between the wars

11 I only joined for the hat
Women sailors in the Second World War

12 Things will never be the same again
Women's lives disrupted by the war

13 I wore the right shoes and didn't interfere
Unexpected jobs in wartime

14 I handed him a bundle of garments for a flare
Discovering courage

15 With my best suspender belt
Adapting to the post-war world

16 No experience necessary
Mixed-sex sailing, 1950s to 1970s

17 If I'm coming, I'm coming in my duffle coat
Women in offshore racing

18 Heather at the stemhead
Sailing from the Clyde

19 Nobody can find you
Families at sea

20 Enormous biceps, baggy jeans and a jolly, yo-ho manner
Femininity and determination

21 Hiring leaky oilskins from the charter company
Women making their own way

22 Who wore the pants?
The role of skipper

23 Trouser suits
Married teamwork

24 I pinned a smile on my face
Winners

25 Dressed like I wanted it
Changing priorities

Bibliography
Endnotes
Index