Kiwis Liv Mackay and Jo Aleh are among those to make history at the latest SailGP training session at Dubai, after taking part in the first all-female training session aboard an F50 sailboat.
Female athletes from across SailGP's 10 national teams, including New Zealand, Great Britain, and Australia, have had the chance to operate Switzerland's F50 boat as part of Sail GP's women's pathway programme.
"It was awesome," said Mackay. "It's a huge step forward.
"Everyone was really stocked with it, but also took it on, and I feel like it's just the start of the real progression that's been really needed."
Mackay has worked with New Zealand's SailGP team since 2019. After the historic training session, she believes "100 percent" that there will one day be an all-female boat competing on the SailGP circuit.
"I feel like the sailing knowledge is all there, it's just the experience really," she added. "With opportunities like the Swiss gave this morning and the more there is like that, the experience will grow.
"It's just about getting the time in the boat."
Mackay hopes the session is the first of many, where a full group of female sailors get to operate an F50 boat.
"Every time you get thrown in the deep end, you learn so much more," she said.
New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling agrees the session marks a special day for international sailing.
"It's just awesome to see the involvement," Burling said. "Right now, the goal is to bridge that skills gap and give opportunities, and I think it's really exciting what the league's doing there."
Meanwhile, New Zealand will be without their 29m wing for the upcoming races at Dubai, after it collapsed during the French leg of the competition in September. The damage forced them out of the next regatta at Taranto, Italy.
Although its absence means New Zealand are forced to revert to their 24m configuration, Burling isn't overly concerned.
"It's the same as it's been for a lot of events," he said. "When we first joined the league, the 29m wasn't quite available then.
"The boats go really well on that light stuff with the 24m as well."
Racing at Dubai begins 11:30pm Saturday (NZ time).
Tune into ThreeNow this weekend for exclusive live coverage of SailGP Dubai
