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Success is impossible without failure – even for the world’s most decorated sailors.
This was the message from Brazilian trailblazer Martine Grael to dozens of young female sailors at the Breaking Boundaries forum, held at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club ahead of this weekend's Auckland debut of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix.
Co-hosted by SailGP and Yachting New Zealand, the event celebrates women in sailing, showcasing progress made across the sport and highlighting the achievements of female athletes.
Grael, a former 49erFX world champion, double Olympic gold medallist, and round-the-world sailor, recently became the first female driver in SailGP history.
At the forum, she was joined by New Zealand SailGP veteran Liv Mackay and Denmark team strategist Katja Salskov-Iversen, with Kiwi winter Olympian Anna Willcox hosting the event.
"Many may not realise how many times we failed before we succeeded. In 2017, I did an Olympic campaign and fell just short of qualifying. It was devastating, but it made me determined never to be in that position again. That failure eventually led to success," Grael said.
"Even earlier, I failed at many things. I was terrible at sailing an Optimist. In my first regatta, I was so far behind that they removed the mark before I could finish the course!"
SailGP stars Martine Grael, Liv Mackay and Katja Salskov-Iversen shared some of their inspiring stories at the Breaking Boundaries forum.
Grael will helm the Brazil team at the Auckland event, her second outing after debuting in Dubai in November, where the team struggled to adapt to the F50 catamarans, finishing 10th overall with a best result of sixth in five fleet races.
"We still fail today, but the key is not letting it hold you back. Focus on the next thing and do it well. Sailing often involves making mistakes and recovering. Some of my best races weren't when I finished first but when I overcame a poor start and worked my way up."
While Grael has broken new ground as the first female F50 driver, Mackay and Salskov-Iversen have been integral to their teams since SailGP's inception.
"SailGP deserves credit for creating pathways for women in professional sailing," Mackay said. "In Dubai, 18 women trained on the F50s over two days, which gave many of us a real taste for it. There are so many avenues in the sport now, from data analysis to wingfoiling. It's about finding what you love."
Salskov-Iversen also acknowledged the progress made.
"When I first joined SailGP, integrating with a team of men wasn't easy. But as more women joined, the dynamic shifted. That’s why we need more women in all areas – as sailors, coaches, and engineers. Martine becoming the first female driver will definitely make it easier for the next driver, and the one after that."
Katja Salskov-Iversen signing autographs after the forum.
The Olympic bronze medallist also spoke about the challenges of balancing sailing with personal life: "I recently found out I’m pregnant, which means I won’t be sailing the F50s for a while. Navigating this has been difficult, but being open about these challenges can hopefully make it easier for others. I hope to come back even stronger."
Yachting New Zealand’s national sport development director, Raynor Haagh, thanked the sailors for their contribution and the RAYC and Akarana Marine Sports Charitable Trust for hosting the forum.
"This forum reflects our ongoing commitment to helping women find their pathways in sailing through initiatives like SheSails New Zealand and through our partnership with SailGP," Haagh said.
"The value of this forum is reflected in the number of people who came along, and hopefully the stories shared by Martine, Liv, and Katja help to inspire the next generation of female Kiwi sailors."
