Judging by the growing number of women who have approached sailing holidays in recent years, it could be said that the sea has never been so pink. In short, the old cliché that navigation is exclusive to men and wolves of the sea seems to have passed. Statistics confirm this trend, in particular the number of female charter holiday bookings which has now exceeded that of males, with more than 50 percent each year.

Women who go sailing, rent boats during their holidays, subscribe to communities and sailing oriented groups on the web with animated discussions and dedicated chats on social networks are increasing. What does this phenomenon depend on?

The female navigators who paved the way to the sea

The reasons for this success of female sailing are different. Surely it is a trend that reflects the general evolution of women in contemporary society which now sees her as an active subject and protagonist, if not a real leader in many sectors of society and the market, including, of course, sport and activities related to leisure and to nature. Then there is the influence of many women who have achieved leading roles, great visibility, front pages of newspapers in the sailing field. Think for example of the French Isabelle Autissier, the first woman to have traveled the world alone on board a sailboat, or the British Ellen MacArthur, who appeared in the world of ocean racing from a very young age and is a world speed record holder, but also to the very young Laura Dekker, the Dutch girl who became famous a few years ago for having completed the world sailing trip when she was only 15 years old.

Sailing as an essential and rewarding school of life

Beyond the regattas and sporting enterprises, there are also women who have simply opened the eyes of many colleagues to the concept of sailing out of curiosity, for a spirit of adventure, for the desire to know the world from another viewpoint, such as the Italian Erica Giopp who a few years ago, at the age of 26, left for her boat trip that took her to travel 17,000 miles on seas around the world. Her book “A year in the boat”, a sort of travel diary in which she invited everyone to live every day savoring what is essential, was an editorial success that has certainly led other women and girls to follow her advice, perhaps by boarding a small sailboat.

Freedom, adventure and self-discovery are the strongest attractions

All these sailors say that boats and navigation are strong means that bring out the best even in women. Where a woman does not arrive with physical strength, she compensates with intuition, intelligence, her extraordinary sensitivity. But what exactly are women on a boat looking for? Surely, as for men, they are attracted by the great sense of freedom that one breathes aboard a sailboat, the close contact with nature and the elements, the search for relaxation. But also the desire to do it alone, put yourself to the test, increase your self-esteem in an environment that is sometimes hostile and demanding like the sea. A boat cruise for many women is a way to rediscover themselves, to get back into the game and to open up to the world.

In the case of single women and young women, a holiday on a boat also means fun, lightness, the need to switch off, perhaps sailing on large catamarans or flotillas. Often for women, living on board is a complete wellness experience that they often associate with complementary activities such as trekking, yoga or diving.

For the women on board, the real focus is on responsibility

Surely the women on board are looking for some more comfort than the men. They want a clean, welcoming and well-organized interior. Technical environments such as the kitchen or bathrooms in perfect working order. Accessories that improve life on board, such as fridge and freezer. What is certain, however, is that the women who get on the boat are no longer satisfied with being guests and delegating maneuvers and physical work to men. They want to take the helm, follow the GPS, moor, learn the techniques of management even in bad weather, apply the strict safety rules. Life on a boat is also made up of this and indeed it is certainly the most complex part but also the most rewarding one. The boat offers the possibility to be autonomous and free, but also aware of the scenery, of one’s abilities and possibilities at sea.

And this must also be a warning for men who today go on a boat with women: it is necessary to break the old clichés of the past and give more space to women, so that they can learn as much as possible and be autonomous so that, in case something happens and help is needed, she can provide it.