The Magenta Project needs your help to allow us to expand the capacity and capability of our flagship mentoring programme! Our goal is to raise £10k to cover the costs of managing our mentoring programme, workshops and clinics so that we may continue to offer free programmes to developing performance sailors. Together we can continue to inspire, encourage, and advance aspiring women in performance sailing. THANK YOU!

ABOUT THE MENTORING PROGRAMME

Founded by members of Volvo Ocean Race 2014/15 Team SCA, the mentoring programme aims to link up aspiring female sailors with mentors who can help plan their sporting development pathway and inspire them to succeed at the highest level possible, whilst addressing any issues that are preventing them progressing or reaching their potential or even leading to them exiting early from the sport.

It is predominantly an ‘off-the-water’ mentoring programme, focusing on their wider development in sailing – not necessarily hands-on skills development – though the programme does offer clinics and workshops for up-skilling opportunities that we wish to expand. Mentors are a hugely inspiring and important part of women’s development; similar mentoring schemes are found across other business and industry sectors, and have been greatly beneficial to developing the next generation of talent.

Within the sport of sailing, there has been no such scheme before. We aim to expand our reach with big league partnerships such as our recent “Horizon” pledge in partnership with The Ocean Race to reach 50/50 men and women across teams by 2030. Now approaching our fifth year of operation, over 150 mentees have successfully been part of the 9-month programme, which kicks off in the autumn. Mentees have spanned over 15 countries and the majority are under the age of 25.

Some mentees are transitioning from successful dinghy or Olympic classes into keelboats/larger yacht racing. Many aspire to the big offshore races, both fully crewed and short-handed. Others seek the thrills of the multihull and foiling classes that pave the way to the America's Cup. What they all share is a passion for the sport and the aspiration to positively impact its landscape in the future. What they gain is access to an international support network that will create more pathways and opportunities for success.

THE IMPACT OF MENTORSHIP & COMMUNITY

Mentoring in sailing has opened up so many opportunities. One of the surprising successes has been the community that the mentees have created. Linking over 150 talented women across the globe with similar aspirations has been hugely beneficial. This pool of talent is now targeted for opportunities and has momentum to create their own where they don’t currently exist. From foiling to short-handed clinics, mentees have gone on to co-collaborate on campaigns and source other racing opportunities.

HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS

Our programme continues to expand – now offering STEM and shore-side mentoring opportunities, which will attract new mentees and mentors each year. We seek to raise £10k to continue raising the bar of our services and offer these resources at no cost to participants so that we maintain open access and opportunities for all.

If you are interested in large-scale philanthropy or sponsorship opportunities with The Magenta Project, please get in touch to learn more!