
WOMEN SAILORS
59º North Reserves TWO BUNKS FOR WOMEN ON ALL OF OUR OFFSHORE PASSAGES!
We're proud that our core team of professional skippers and mates is comprised of a mix of men & women. We hope that this action will trend our paying crew’s gender ratio closer to our 50/50 ideal. Historically, 28% of our paying sailing crew have been women, and we are looking forward to raising that. In 2024, we increased the number of women onboard our boats to 34%!
We have learned that the risk of there being no women, or just one woman, on the crew can be a barrier for some when considering whether to sail with us. Past crew Laura Ladenheim said, “I was the only woman on my trip with you all, and it was still wonderful, but I do think it would have been great to have another female present.”
We strive to create opportunities to include more people in offshore sailing, and are confident that this change will break down that barrier.
“If we are unable to fill the two reserved spaces with women, then we will not fill them with men, irrespective of the demand. This is a values based decision; we are not prepared to undermine our goal of making sailing more inclusive in order to make small financial gains.”
THE FINE PRINT
It is not possible for us to guarantee there will be two women on every trip. There is always a risk of a last minute cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. However, we guarantee the following:
We will continue to actively encourage and empower women into offshore sailing.
We will actively seek out women to fill these spaces, and encourage our crew to do so.
We will aim to fill at least one of the skipper/mate roles with a professional sailor who is a woman.
TestimonialS
TAKING ACTION
59° North passages are simply more fun and more inspiring the more diverse the crew - we’ve had men and women of all ages and lots of nationalities sail with us, and inevitably the diverse trips are the most memorable. By taking this small step we believe that while it’ll definitely attract more women to our sport, more importantly, it’ll attract more people, of all backgrounds, who share our values and want to sail with us.
All Women’s Passages
In 2022 we sailed our very first ‘All Women’s passage’ on ICEBEAR and it was a huge success. From now on, we offer at least one ‘All Women’s Passage’ on FALKEN every year, and in 2025 will sail our first one on ISBJØRN!
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Julie Macala (USA) | 2023 Iceland Women's Passage
“Gathering with 10 other like-minded women aboard FALKEN was amazing! I learned more than i ever expected from Nikki and Emma. It was super inspiring to see how they ran the ship and how they interacted with each other and the rest of the crew. Being "allowed" to mess up and actually learn from your mistakes without anyone getting stressed was freeing! No matter your skill level, i'd recommend this trip to any women with a desire to sail.”
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Katy Freye (USA) | 2023 Iceland Women's Passage
“Sailing with 59 North on their all-women's Iceland trip was an incredibly enriching experience. Nikki, Emma and the entire crew of strong and knowledgeable women empowered and inspired me. we, In fact, drew a crowd (of surprised men) at every dock. I could not be more grateful and proud to have had such a powerful experience!”
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Becky Clark (UK) | 2022 Women's Passage | Marstrand to Portsmouth
“As this was my first major passage i wasn't sure what to expect. You have to have a lot of respect for people who choose offshore sailing for their profession. Life-changing and eye-opening to say the least. I feel I completed this adventure with the best of the best. Erik and Ben were top notch professionals and the my experience with 59 north was a great!”
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Kerri Bostwick (USA) | 2023 Iceland Women's Passage
“Describing my experience on the all-women's passage in Iceland is a challenge because it was truly extraordinary. When i first embarked on this journey, my anxiety was soaring; I questioned my readiness, having never ventured beyond the familiar waters of the Chesapeake bay. However, from the moment i met Nikki and Emma, my worries dissipated. Their guidance and instruction were nothing short of incredible, and iIabsorbed a wealth of knowledge from them.
Collaborating with an all-female crew was not only inspiring but also exceptionally enjoyable. The on-board food (and tea time) was amazing, and our shared mealtimes and nightly debriefings with the crew added an extra layer of camaraderie and significance to the trip.
Looking ahead, I'm already eagerly anticipating my next voyage with 59 North. I deeply appreciate your organization's commitment to encouraging more women to embrace sailing. This experience has been truly amazing and life-changing. Thank you for making it all possible.”
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Kate Helmuth (USA) | 2022 Women's Passage | Marstrand - Portsmouth
When I think back to my trip across the North Sea on ICEBEAR, the memories I reflect upon uplift me, and fill my being with warmth and gratitude. SO much laughter, learning, and sailing.. with a dash of cookies on those late night shifts. Unplugging from the corporate world and embracing the beauty the ocean has to offer.. it doesn’t get much better than that. Not to mention meeting 5-7 strangers from across the world who share that mutual desire.
My experience with 59 North molded me into a slightly different version of myself, in the most magical ways. I signed up for a passage with little to no sailing experience, lacking confidence in the basics, and I went home after 11 days with a more courageous yet humbled energy.
This opportunity allowed me to grow on an individual level, and realize how capable and excited I am to take on new challenges. Helming the boat in the wee hours of night with 4 meter waves took some adjusting, but I was able to overcome my instant sense of fear and trust myself.
I can’t promise all the same experiences I had, but I can promise that the 59 crew will eloquently teach you how to handle any challenge thrown your way at sea. From safety briefs to preparing delicious dinners from scratch and SO much more, this crew really drives the most exceptional and balanced offshore opportunity.
Nikki, Mia, and Emma - Thank you for doing an outstanding job at making me feel safe and empowered to ask all the questions and learn new things.
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Marina Steele (CAN) | 2022 Women's Passage | Martstrand - Portsmouth
“In the 11 days we spent on the North Sea, with a crew of 9 women, 59 feet of boat, 1350nm and two episodes of heaving-to, we amassed the kind of experience it might take many years to acquire on our own. Each one of us was given just the right mentorship, leadership, training and kindness to become better sailors by leaps and bounds. Every step of the way, we laughed, learned and discovered what we were made of.
If you want to leave land behind and sail oceans, you owe yourself the opportunity to get the training with those who have lived and breathed it the way the crew at 59 North have done. Every passage they have completed is a legacy of knowledge that we benefit from. Having the chance to share this experience with other sailors from around the world was a pure joy as we doubled up on ideas, solutions and worked together as a team. How often do you get to come home with extraordinary experiences, well-honed skills and some lifelong friends? You owe this to yourself. Go for it!”