0:00:01.334,0:00:05.003 Being able to navigate[br]is an extraordinary gift, 0:00:05.003,0:00:07.188 and there is nothing like it in the world. 0:00:07.274,0:00:11.001 I get no more sense[br]of satisfaction greater 0:00:11.001,0:00:13.969 than leaving a port 0:00:13.969,0:00:18.382 and knowing that I can get[br]my team and my boat 0:00:18.382,0:00:20.696 safely from that port to another port, 0:00:20.696,0:00:24.296 maybe three, four, five,[br]six thousand miles away. 0:00:25.019,0:00:27.582 Being at sea for me is ... 0:00:27.582,0:00:29.241 it's to total freedom, 0:00:29.241,0:00:34.031 and it is the ultimate[br]opportunity to be you 0:00:34.031,0:00:35.873 because you can't be anything else. 0:00:35.873,0:00:38.673 You are naked in front[br]of your peers on a boat. 0:00:38.673,0:00:40.120 It is a small area. 0:00:40.120,0:00:42.088 Maiden is 58 feet long. 0:00:42.308,0:00:44.731 There's 12 women in a 58-foot boat. 0:00:44.731,0:00:47.444 I mean, you are literally[br]up against each other, 0:00:47.444,0:00:49.704 and so you have to be you. 0:00:50.091,0:00:53.358 The greatest moment[br]for me when I'm sailing 0:00:53.358,0:00:56.266 is the moment that the land disappears. 0:00:56.266,0:00:59.209 It's an indescribable moment of -- 0:00:59.209,0:01:00.214 [gasps] 0:01:00.214,0:01:01.147 adventure 0:01:01.147,0:01:03.725 and no turning back, 0:01:03.725,0:01:07.409 and just you and the boat[br]and the elements. 0:01:08.199,0:01:11.910 I wish everyone could experience[br]this at least once in their lives. 0:01:11.910,0:01:14.168 The further you get away from land, 0:01:14.168,0:01:16.699 the more you kind of fit into yourself. 0:01:16.699,0:01:18.072 It is you, 0:01:18.072,0:01:19.689 how do we get to the next place, 0:01:19.689,0:01:21.370 how do we stay alive, 0:01:21.370,0:01:23.665 how do we look after each other 0:01:23.665,0:01:26.441 and what do we do [br]to get to the other side. 0:01:26.906,0:01:30.524 So the question I get asked[br]the most when I go and do talks 0:01:30.524,0:01:34.163 is "How do you become[br]and ocean-racing sailor?" 0:01:34.311,0:01:36.027 And that's a really good question. 0:01:36.300,0:01:39.531 I've always wanted to say "I had a vision, 0:01:39.531,0:01:40.888 which became a dream, 0:01:40.888,0:01:43.057 which became an obsession," 0:01:43.057,0:01:45.358 but of course life's not like that, 0:01:45.358,0:01:49.005 and one thing I'm really anxious[br]for people to know about me 0:01:49.005,0:01:51.624 is that my life[br]hasn't gone from A to B -- 0:01:51.624,0:01:54.975 because how many people can say[br]their lives just go from A to B; 0:01:54.975,0:01:58.338 they think I'm going to do this[br]and they go and do it? 0:01:58.953,0:02:00.505 So I tell the truth. 0:02:00.669,0:02:04.126 And the truth is that I was expelled[br]from school when I was 15 years old 0:02:04.126,0:02:08.711 and my long-suffering headmaster[br]sent a long-suffering note 0:02:08.711,0:02:10.196 to my long-suffering mother, 0:02:10.196,0:02:14.831 basically saying that if Tracy[br]darkens these doors of the school again 0:02:14.831,0:02:16.565 then we will call the police. 0:02:16.634,0:02:20.192 And my mum took me and she said, 0:02:20.192,0:02:23.481 "Darling, education is not for everyone." 0:02:23.481,0:02:27.049 And then she gave me the best[br]piece of advice anyone has ever given me. 0:02:27.390,0:02:30.886 She said every single one of us[br]is good at something, 0:02:30.886,0:02:33.420 you just have to go and find what that is. 0:02:33.491,0:02:37.219 And at the age of 16 she let me[br]go backpacking off to Greece. 0:02:37.636,0:02:39.698 I ended up working on boats, 0:02:39.698,0:02:40.972 which was OK -- 0:02:40.972,0:02:42.148 17 years old, 0:02:42.148,0:02:44.216 didn't really know what I wanted to do, 0:02:44.216,0:02:45.839 kind of going with the flow. 0:02:45.974,0:02:48.798 And then on my second transatlantic, 0:02:48.798,0:02:51.089 my skipper said to me, "Can you navigate?" 0:02:51.089,0:02:53.046 And I said, "of course I can't navigate, 0:02:53.046,0:02:54.833 I was expelled before long division." 0:02:54.833,0:02:57.973 And he said, "Well, don't you think[br]you should be able to navigate? 0:02:57.973,0:02:59.892 What happens if I fall over the side? 0:02:59.892,0:03:01.829 Stop being a bystander in your own life, 0:03:01.829,0:03:03.745 stop looking at what you're doing 0:03:03.745,0:03:05.467 and start taking part." 0:03:05.967,0:03:09.403 This day for me was the day[br]that my whole life started. 0:03:09.403,0:03:11.615 I learned to navigate in two days -- 0:03:11.615,0:03:13.650 and this is someone who hates numbers 0:03:13.650,0:03:15.469 and sees them as hieroglyphics. 0:03:16.063,0:03:20.236 It opened up avenues and opportunities[br]to me that I could never have imagined. 0:03:20.236,0:03:24.055 I actually managed to get a ride[br]on a Whitbread Round the World Race boat. 0:03:24.094,0:03:26.862 It was with 17 South African men and me. 0:03:27.166,0:03:28.987 I was 21 years old, 0:03:28.987,0:03:31.155 and it was the longest[br]nine months of my life. 0:03:31.155,0:03:32.852 But I went to cook, 0:03:32.852,0:03:34.734 I managed to survive until the end, 0:03:34.734,0:03:36.560 and when I got to end of this race, 0:03:36.560,0:03:39.868 I realized that there were[br]230 crew in this race 0:03:39.868,0:03:41.169 and three women, 0:03:41.169,0:03:42.388 and I was one of them. 0:03:42.388,0:03:43.990 And I'm a lousy cook. 0:03:44.319,0:03:46.063 I'm a really good navigator. 0:03:46.807,0:03:51.513 I think the second most profound[br]thought in my entire life was: 0:03:51.513,0:03:56.993 no man is ever going to allow me[br]to be a navigator on their boat ever. 0:03:57.393,0:03:59.316 And that is still the case today. 0:03:59.316,0:04:00.939 In 35 years of the Whitbread 0:04:00.939,0:04:02.833 there's only been two female navigators 0:04:02.833,0:04:04.940 that haven't been on an all-female cruise, 0:04:04.940,0:04:06.475 and that's how Maiden was born. 0:04:06.572,0:04:08.689 That was the moment I thought, 0:04:08.689,0:04:10.183 I've got something to fight for 0:04:10.183,0:04:14.031 and I had no idea[br]that I wanted to have this fight. 0:04:14.355,0:04:18.595 It was something that I took to[br]like a duck to water. 0:04:19.234,0:04:23.524 I discovered things about myself[br]that I had no idea existed. 0:04:23.980,0:04:26.448 I discovered I had a fighting spirit, 0:04:26.448,0:04:28.178 I discovered I was competitive -- 0:04:28.178,0:04:29.914 never knew that before -- 0:04:29.914,0:04:33.598 and I discovered my second passion, 0:04:33.598,0:04:35.451 which was equality. 0:04:35.737,0:04:38.128 I couldn't let this one lie. 0:04:38.128,0:04:41.665 And it became not just about me[br]wanting to navigate on a boat 0:04:41.665,0:04:43.765 and having to put my own crew together 0:04:43.765,0:04:45.219 and my own team, 0:04:45.219,0:04:46.214 raise my own money, 0:04:46.214,0:04:47.617 find my own boat 0:04:47.617,0:04:49.181 so that I could be navigator. 0:04:49.181,0:04:51.024 This was about women everywhere. 0:04:51.024,0:04:53.166 And this was when I realized 0:04:53.166,0:04:56.801 that this was probably what I was going[br]to spend the rest of my life doing. 0:04:57.041,0:04:58.909 It took ages for us to find the money 0:04:58.909,0:05:01.640 to do the 1989 Whitbread[br]Round the World Race. 0:05:01.640,0:05:03.672 And as we looked at all the big, 0:05:03.672,0:05:05.551 multi-million pound, 0:05:05.551,0:05:07.315 all-male projects around us 0:05:07.315,0:05:11.109 with their brand-new shiny boats[br]designed for the race, 0:05:11.109,0:05:14.017 we realized this was not going to be us. 0:05:14.147,0:05:16.278 We had to make this up[br]as we went along. 0:05:16.278,0:05:19.159 No one had enough faith in us[br]to give us this kind of money. 0:05:19.159,0:05:20.928 So I mortgaged my house 0:05:20.928,0:05:23.161 and we found an old wreck 0:05:23.161,0:05:24.495 with a pedigree, 0:05:24.495,0:05:25.772 an old Whitbread boat -- 0:05:25.772,0:05:27.867 it had already been[br]around the world twice -- 0:05:27.867,0:05:29.262 in South Africa. 0:05:29.262,0:05:31.646 We somehow persuaded[br]some guy to put it on a ship 0:05:31.646,0:05:33.932 and bring it back to the UK for us. 0:05:34.029,0:05:37.316 The girls were horrified[br]at the state of the boat. 0:05:37.510,0:05:39.565 We got a free place in a yard. 0:05:39.565,0:05:41.170 We got her up on the hard 0:05:41.170,0:05:42.805 and we redesigned her, 0:05:42.805,0:05:44.271 we ripped her apart, 0:05:44.271,0:05:46.503 we did all the work ourselves. 0:05:46.503,0:05:49.931 It was the first time that anyone[br]had ever seen women in a shipyard, 0:05:49.931,0:05:51.537 so that was quite entertaining. 0:05:51.537,0:05:53.740 Every morning when we would walk in, 0:05:53.740,0:05:55.442 everyone would just gawk at us. 0:05:55.491,0:05:57.020 But it also had its advantages 0:05:57.020,0:05:59.457 because everyone was so helpful. 0:05:59.457,0:06:00.920 We were such a novelty. 0:06:01.306,0:06:03.034 You know, we got given a generator, 0:06:03.034,0:06:04.369 an engine -- 0:06:04.369,0:06:05.704 "Do you want this old rope?" 0:06:05.704,0:06:06.710 "Yep." 0:06:06.710,0:06:07.707 "Old sails?" 0:06:07.707,0:06:09.092 "Yep, we'll have those." 0:06:09.092,0:06:11.618 So we really made it up as we went along. 0:06:11.618,0:06:15.829 And I think actually one of the huge[br]advantages we had was, 0:06:15.829,0:06:18.592 you know, there was no preconceived idea 0:06:18.592,0:06:21.695 about how an all-female crew[br]would sail around the world. 0:06:21.695,0:06:23.905 So whatever we did was OK. 0:06:24.185,0:06:28.120 And what it also did[br]was it drew people to it -- 0:06:28.120,0:06:29.519 not just women -- 0:06:29.519,0:06:32.839 men, anyone who had been told[br]you can't do something 0:06:32.839,0:06:34.470 because you're not good enough -- 0:06:34.470,0:06:35.467 your right gender 0:06:35.467,0:06:36.468 or right race 0:06:36.468,0:06:38.035 or right color, or whatever. 0:06:38.035,0:06:39.561 Maiden became a passion. 0:06:40.390,0:06:43.577 And it was hard to raise the money -- 0:06:43.577,0:06:45.576 hundreds of companies wouldn't sponsor us. 0:06:45.576,0:06:47.972 They told us that we couldn't do it, 0:06:47.972,0:06:50.522 people thought we were going to die -- 0:06:50.522,0:06:52.996 you know, guys would literally[br]come up to me and say, 0:06:52.996,0:06:54.320 "You're going to die." 0:06:54.320,0:06:56.525 I'd think, well, OK, that's my business, 0:06:56.525,0:06:57.600 it's not yours. 0:06:58.101,0:07:01.084 In the end, King Hussein of Jordan[br]sponsored Maiden, 0:07:01.084,0:07:02.929 and that was an amazing thing -- 0:07:02.929,0:07:04.333 way ahead of his time, 0:07:04.333,0:07:05.610 all about equality. 0:07:05.610,0:07:08.604 We sailed around the world[br]with a message of peace and equality. 0:07:08.604,0:07:12.245 We were the only boat in the race[br]with a message of any kind. 0:07:12.418,0:07:14.702 We won two legs of the Whitbread -- 0:07:14.702,0:07:16.285 two of the most difficult legs -- 0:07:16.285,0:07:17.987 and we came second overall. 0:07:18.132,0:07:21.986 And that is still the best result[br]for a British boat since 1977. 0:07:22.399,0:07:23.943 It annoyed a lot of people. 0:07:24.176,0:07:26.052 And I think what it did at the time -- 0:07:26.052,0:07:27.114 we didn't realize. 0:07:27.114,0:07:29.042 You know, we crossed the finishing line, 0:07:29.042,0:07:30.233 this incredible finish -- 0:07:30.233,0:07:32.958 600 boats sailing up the Solent with us; 0:07:32.958,0:07:38.877 50,000 people in Ocean Village[br]chanting "Maiden, Maiden" 0:07:38.877,0:07:40.069 as we sailed in. 0:07:40.069,0:07:43.203 And so we knew we'd done something[br]that we wanted to do 0:07:43.203,0:07:46.144 and we hoped we achieved something good, 0:07:46.144,0:07:51.408 but we had no idea at the time[br]how many women's lives we changed. 0:07:52.018,0:07:53.947 The Southern Ocean is my favorite ocean. 0:07:53.947,0:07:55.441 Each ocean has a character. 0:07:55.598,0:07:58.132 So the North Atlantic is a yomping ocean. 0:07:58.377,0:08:02.679 It's a jolly, go-for-it,[br]heave-ho type of -- 0:08:02.679,0:08:04.198 have-fun type of ocean. 0:08:04.378,0:08:07.969 The Southern Ocean[br]is a deadly serious ocean. 0:08:08.106,0:08:12.438 And you know the moment[br]when you cross into the Southern Ocean -- 0:08:12.438,0:08:13.911 the latitude and longitude -- 0:08:13.911,0:08:15.609 you know when you're there, 0:08:15.609,0:08:17.314 the waves have been building, 0:08:17.314,0:08:19.868 they start getting[br]big whitecaps on the top, 0:08:19.868,0:08:21.344 it becomes really grey, 0:08:21.344,0:08:23.395 you start to get sensory deprivation. 0:08:23.779,0:08:28.599 It is very focused on[br]who you are and what you are 0:08:28.599,0:08:31.621 with this massive wilderness around you. 0:08:32.158,0:08:33.278 It is empty. 0:08:33.278,0:08:36.948 It is so big and so empty. 0:08:37.457,0:08:40.179 You see albatrosses[br]swirling around the boat. 0:08:40.179,0:08:43.339 It takes about four days to sail[br]through their territory, 0:08:43.339,0:08:45.592 so you have the same[br]albatrosses for four days. 0:08:45.592,0:08:47.703 And they find us quite a novelty, 0:08:47.703,0:08:52.838 so they literally windsurf off the wind[br]that comes off the mainsail 0:08:52.838,0:08:55.458 and they hang behind the boat, 0:08:55.458,0:08:57.588 and you sort of feel[br]this presence behind you 0:08:57.588,0:08:58.596 and you turn around 0:08:58.596,0:09:00.691 and it's this albatross[br]just looking at you. 0:09:00.691,0:09:02.806 We sold Maiden at the end of the race -- 0:09:02.806,0:09:04.499 we still had no money, 0:09:04.499,0:09:06.649 and five years ago we found her 0:09:06.649,0:09:09.068 at the same time[br]as a film director decided 0:09:09.068,0:09:11.542 he wanted to make[br]a documentary about Maiden. 0:09:11.984,0:09:13.126 We found Maiden; 0:09:13.126,0:09:14.526 she burst back into my life 0:09:14.526,0:09:17.744 and reminded me a lot of things[br]I had forgotten actually, 0:09:17.744,0:09:19.063 over the years, 0:09:19.063,0:09:21.760 about following my heart and my gut 0:09:21.760,0:09:24.088 and really being part of the universe. 0:09:24.337,0:09:28.273 Everything I find important in life, 0:09:28.273,0:09:30.257 Maiden has given back to me. 0:09:30.257,0:09:32.132 Again, we rescued her-- 0:09:32.132,0:09:33.328 we did a Crowdfunder -- 0:09:33.328,0:09:35.175 we rescued her from Seychelles. 0:09:35.373,0:09:36.433 Princess Haya, 0:09:36.433,0:09:37.689 King Hussein's daughter, 0:09:37.689,0:09:41.211 funded the shipping back to the UK[br]and then the restoration. 0:09:41.356,0:09:43.128 All the original crew were involved. 0:09:43.194,0:09:45.142 We put the original team back together. 0:09:45.640,0:09:46.698 And then we decided: 0:09:46.698,0:09:48.495 what are we going to do with Maiden? 0:09:48.631,0:09:51.297 And this for me really was[br]the moment in my life 0:09:51.297,0:09:54.483 where I looked back on every single[br]thing that I'd done -- 0:09:54.483,0:09:55.646 every project, 0:09:55.646,0:09:56.751 every feeling, 0:09:56.751,0:09:57.756 every passion, 0:09:57.756,0:09:58.755 every battle, 0:09:58.755,0:09:59.764 every fight -- 0:09:59.764,0:10:02.803 and I decided that I wanted Maiden[br]to continue that fight 0:10:02.803,0:10:04.341 for the next generation. 0:10:04.341,0:10:06.058 Maiden is sailing around the world. 0:10:06.058,0:10:07.655 A five-year world tour. 0:10:07.655,0:10:11.737 We are engaging with thousands[br]of girls all over the world. 0:10:11.737,0:10:15.979 We are supporting community programs[br]that get girls into education. 0:10:16.261,0:10:19.181 Education doesn't just mean[br]sitting in a classroom. 0:10:19.403,0:10:24.684 This, for me, is about teaching girls[br]you don't have to look a certain way, 0:10:24.684,0:10:27.184 you don't have to feel a certain way, 0:10:27.184,0:10:29.090 you don't have to behave a certain way. 0:10:29.090,0:10:30.264 You can be successful, 0:10:30.264,0:10:31.536 you can follow your dreams 0:10:31.536,0:10:33.076 and you can fight for them. 0:10:33.076,0:10:34.798 Life doesn't go from A to B. 0:10:34.798,0:10:35.814 It's messy. 0:10:35.814,0:10:38.732 My life has been a mess[br]from beginning to end, 0:10:38.732,0:10:41.292 but somehow I've got to where we're going. 0:10:41.541,0:10:44.860 The future for us[br]and Maiden looks amazing. 0:10:45.248,0:10:46.899 And for me, 0:10:46.899,0:10:48.884 it is all about closing the circle. 0:10:49.172,0:10:51.659 It's about closing the circle with Maiden 0:10:51.659,0:10:54.315 and using her to tell girls 0:10:54.315,0:10:56.624 that if just one person believes in you, 0:10:56.624,0:10:58.548 you can do anything.