Charting a new course for women sailors

Of the 12 skippers who took to the water on Oct 5 and Oct 6 for the start of the first Women's America's Cup, not one has had an opportunity to sail the AC75s used by their male counterparts.

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That is something they aim to change by the time the next main America's Cup comes around by demonstrating their racing skills in the smaller, AC40 foiling boats they will be competing with in the Mediterranean off Barcelona until Oct 13.

"We all want to sail on the 75s for the next campaigns," said French skipper Manon Audinet at the launch of the women's event, which boasts 17 Olympic medallists in its line-up.

"I can't wait to see women on the big boats for the next one."

The sailors faced challenging conditions for the first four fleet races of the series between Britain, France, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States.