The Maiden, a U.K. racing yacht helmed by an all-female crew, is on a three-year world tour that will see it cover 90,000 nautical miles, visit more than 60 destinations in 20 countries and encourage countless girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering or math.
It set sail from Dubai in January and is now crossing the Atlantic Ocean toward southern U.S., where it will then work its way up the Eastern Seaboard.
In early August, it will make its first and only Canadian stop this year — in the port of Saint John.
As a waterborne ambassador for the Maiden Factor Foundation, Maiden's mission is a lofty one: work with, raise funds for and support communities to help girls access education, and empower them to see their education and career goals through to the finish line.
In the meantime, many are following the voyage on Maiden Factor's Twitter account or on The Maiden Factor blog, where skippers and crew post updates such as this one, posted earlier this week:
"We are currently off Gibraltar gybing downwind ... There are ships just everywhere and I am very happy to be here in daylight as it's a special part of the world. This 14nm channel feeds all of the Mediterranean.
We have been joined by dolphins dancing by our side for hours, beautiful! 14 [nautical miles] before we say goodbye to land for a few weeks."
And though it will be almost four months before Maiden sails into the port, the buzz is already being felt, Copeland said.
"The local sail community is quite excited because the Maiden and the original story of the female crew that raced her ... is quite well known" to them, Copeland said.
"Many local female sailors have already offered to help with hosting the crew while they're in Saint John," taking them on tours of the local yacht clubs and working with local youth charity groups, "which we're very happy about."
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