All-female crew of Maiden to be greeted with homecoming parade

MDL Marinas has confirmed the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show 2024 will feature a welcome-home parade for the all-female crew of the sailing yacht Maiden on Saturday, 20 April.

Following a six-year world tour, raising awareness and funds for girls’ education around the globe, and seven months competing in her last round the world race, sailing yacht Maiden is returning to MDL’s flagship Ocean Village Marina after departing on an epic 27,000-mile global navigation last September.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Whitbread Round the World Race, the fully crewed retro Ocean Globe Race 2023 is being run in the spirit of the original 1973 race.

Organisers say the homecoming event will mark a highlight at this year’s South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show.

MDL Marinas invites all boat owners and skippers to join the official homecoming parade, which will take place in front of thousands of showgoers and other spectators, as well as the local and national press. Offering some of the best vantage points to view Maiden’s arrival, boats in the harbour will be in prime position to soak up the atmosphere.

Boat owners and skippers are invited to participate by joining the flotilla alongside Maiden for the Parade of Sail as the boat makes its way from Cowes to Ocean Village. The welcome home parade aims to recreate the triumphant scene of Maiden’s celebrated homecoming to Ocean Village Marina in 1990, when an estimated crowd of 50,000 came out.

Maiden sailing yacht

Skippered by sailor Tracy Edwards MBE alongside the first-ever all-female crew, they achieved a ground-breaking finish in the Whitbread Round the World Race, changing the face of sailing for women worldwide and inspiring them to follow their dreams.

“We want to re-create Maiden’s 1990 homecoming and hope that everyone in the area with a boat will be out on the water to cheer Maiden and her inspirational young, all-female crew home to Southampton,” says Edwards.

“Half the boats in the Solent turned out to welcome Tracy and her crew back home in 1990,” says Tim Mayer, sales and marketing director, MDL Marinas. “We’re hoping the boating community will once again turn out to give Maiden a hero’s welcome home.”

Boats can register their interest by completing the form on MDL’s website. Boats will meet off Cowes on the Isle of Wight at 8am on Saturday 20 April for the Parade of Sail across The Solent and up to Ocean Village in Southampton.

Non-boat owners wishing to join in the Parade of Sail can still be part of the on-water celebration aboard the cruise boat Ocean Scene.

Fully heated with saloons, sundecks and onboard facilities, the popular passenger vessel will pick up guests from E Pontoon at Ocean Village at 6am and sail across to Cowes, where it will meet Maiden and join the Parade of Sail up Southampton water and into Ocean Village, disembarking at 9.45am. Ferry tickets can be purchased online.

Show visitors will have a fantastic viewpoint to see Maiden’s arrival at the marina, as well as getting the chance to meet the crew and hear about their round the world adventures using only a sextant, charts and the stars. Visitors will also get the unique opportunity to see Maiden up close.

“The South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show is free to attend, so come and enjoy a great day out with the added excitement of joining in with the Maiden celebrations,” adds Mayer. “We are very excited to host Maiden‘s welcome home parade as part of this year’s show.

“This event not only pays homage to Maiden’s extraordinary achievements but also celebrates the spirit of camaraderie and passion that defines the boating community. We look forward to welcoming everyone for a memorable day of celebration.”

Smart logistics solutions specialist DP World is the official Return Partner and title sponsor of The Maiden Factor, championing Maiden and its crew throughout their world tour and race.

The monies raised through The Maiden Factor Foundation have benefited charities around the world, helping to inspire and empower girls through education.