Rare all-female team perseveres in Volvo Ocean Race
By The Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Nearly 400 women tried out for a chance to join the all-female Team SCA in this year’s Volvo Ocean Race, the most prestigious offshore sailing event in the world.
The team is only the fifth all-female team in the race’s 40-year history. About 50 applicants started training over two years ago to compete in the race.
Officials say because women have fewer professional sailing opportunities than men, they have less experience, and need to train harder.
Seven identical, 65-foot sloops left Oct. 11 from Alicante, Spain, and will make several stops before finishing in Gothenburg, Sweden, in June.
The teams are heading from Brazil to Newport, the only North American stopover on the race, and are expected to arrive Thursday.
Team SCA is currently in last place in what has been a close race so far.
© The Associated Press / WLNE-TV 2015
