Two-Thirds Report Discrimination Across Sailing and the Marine Industry. Minimal Change Since 2019

Landmark Study by The Magenta Project Exposes Gap Between Elite Progress and Everyday Reality

The Magenta Project, in collaboration with 11th Hour Racing and World Sailing, has today released the results of the 2×25 Review.

The findings reveal a stark gap between high-profile progress at the top of the sport of sailing and persistent discrimination, exclusion and inequity across the broader sailing community and marine industry. Sixty-five percent of all respondents report experiencing some form of discrimination.

Sexism remains the most prevalent form, reported by more than 85% of women. While 67% of all respondents see gender imbalance as a significant issue, the picture for women specifically has barely shifted — 75% still believe gender balance is a problem, down from 80% in the World Sailing Trust’s 2019 Strategic Review.

There is some feeling of headway being made. Eighty-three percent of respondents believe female representation has improved over the past five years, and events such as the Women’s America’s Cup, SailGP and the Vendée Globe showcase inclusive competition at the highest level. But the deeper data shows that many of the structural, cultural and behavioural barriers identified in the 2019 Strategic Review remain largely unchanged.

Drawing on approximately 2,500 responses from 68 countries, combined with expert panel analysis and original academic research by Dr Rachel Scarfe of the University of Stirling, the 2×25 Review is the most comprehensive examination of equity, inclusion and lived experience in sailing and the wider marine industry since 2019. It assesses progress against the nine original recommendations and sets out a new framework for action across inclusion, officiating, coaching, mentorship and leadership.

Key Findings

• Women earn a median of $35,000 annually compared with $49,000 for men — a 29% gap
• Almost 60% of women and more than 60% of non-binary respondents do not believe sailing clubs are inclusive to people from all backgrounds
• Nearly 60% of women and 64% of non-binary respondents have had to adapt their behaviour to feel accepted, compared with half of all respondents overall
• More than 40% of women believe women are not represented in leadership roles within the sailing industry, compared with 25% of men
• 49% of respondents are unaware of any reporting structure for violence, abuse or harassment
• 42% say they are aware of incidents of non-accidental violence within the sailing community
• Over 42% say their organisation has no one responsible for diversity and inclusion

Victoria Low, CEO of The Magenta Project, said:

“The 2×25 Review delivers an uncomfortable truth. The look and feel of our sport is changing, but the lived experience for too many people within it is not. In recent years, sailing has achieved something remarkable at the top. We’ve seen women compete in the America’s Cup, lead Vendée Globe campaigns, and shape SailGP teams. These moments matter. They change what’s possible. But our data shows that this progress has not yet reached the clubs, the pathways, or the day-to-day culture that shapes whether someone enters our sport, stays, and thrives.

“The majority of respondents report experiencing discrimination. More than half of women have had to change who they are to feel accepted. And nearly half of the sport doesn’t know how to report violence or harassment. These are not edge cases. They are defining patterns.

“This Review is not a criticism. It’s an invitation. We now have the evidence, the partnerships, and the roadmap to move from visibility to belonging. The question is whether our industry has the courage to act on it.”

Michelle Carnevale, President of 11th Hour Racing, said:

“For over a decade, 11th Hour Racing has backed efforts to make sailing more welcoming and accessible. We’ve seen first-hand that when you remove barriers and create real opportunities, the entire sport becomes stronger, more innovative, and more resilient. The 2×25 Review confirms what we have long believed: you can’t fix what you don’t measure. This honest look at where the industry stands today gives us something we can hold ourselves accountable to. Our hope is that this isn’t an endpoint, but a starting line.”

A Framework to Act

Beyond highlighting the challenges, the Review sets out a clear framework for action. Key priorities include:

• Tie funding to inclusion. Require clubs and federations to demonstrate inclusive practice as a condition of funding or affiliation
• Fix the pay gap at source. Introduce transparent, standardised pay structures and appointment criteria across the sport
• Go beyond entry-level programmes. Embed structured mentoring and sponsorship that supports women through mid-career stages, not just at the start
• Redesign pathways for modern lives. Make progression routes flexible and compatible with caring responsibilities
• Measure what matters. Shift from representation-focused metrics to indicators of belonging, retention and progression, and require federations to publish this data

The full Review contains detailed recommendations across inclusion, officiating, coaching, mentorship and leadership.

Download the full Review

Header image credit: Flore Hartout – polaRYSE