Antiguan Sailor Scores McIntyre Ocean Globe Race Win as Crew of Maiden UK
Headlines around the world called out one for the history books when the first-ever all-women crew on Maiden UK won the 2023-2024 McIntyre Ocean Globe Race on April 16, 2024. Maiden UK took first in IRC handicap rankings against a strong 14-vessel fleet of experienced and committed sailors. Even more exciting, and yet another inaugural accomplishment, Antigua & Barbuda’s Junella King became the first Caribbean woman to achieve such a feat. King did this as one of the 12-member Maiden crew that sailed some 27,000 miles via the three great capes in 153 days, 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 53 seconds.
“I would describe the feeling of accomplishment as very rewarding,” says King. “I feel so privileged to be a part of such an amazing team and for the first time a winning all-female team. It feels amazing to be a Caribbean woman within this team. I was the only Caribbean woman on the team and in the whole race. Sometimes it was a bit lonely because there were so many diverse cultures, but I still felt welcome within the race. I hope I can inspire more Caribbean women, even Caribbean men as well, to get out there, push for greatness, and do what their minds are set on doing.”
What’s next for King, who started sailing when she was 15 years old at Antigua’s National Sailing Academy Antigua., qualified as an RYA dingy sailing instructor the next year, and obtained her Day Skipper license by 2019.
“No plans right now,” she says. “But what I would like to do is more inshore racing. I like offshore racing, but inshore racing allows me to spend more time with my family. Being away for so long makes me value the time with my family even more.” themaidenfactor.org, oceangloberace.com
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