The extraordinary stories of the fearless women who set their sights on the sea in an all-male world, paving the way for the female sailing superstars of today.
Gender issues are stark at sea. Historically a ship’s crew is all male, and although vessels are referred to as ‘she’, women’s contributions to sailing have been largely ignored, if not actively opposed. Today’s sailing legends such as Tracy Edwards and Ellen MacArthur compete with men on equal terms, but they stand on the shoulders of many women before them, who had to challenge preconceptions, prejudice and even the law in their wish to sail.
Spanning the 19th century to today, Julia Jones dives into the lives of an array of incredible and unconventional women: we meet single-handed sailors, wealthy explorers, long-suffering wives and penniless chancers with a thirst for adventure. Each had to face down barriers of official exclusion, family-imposed restriction, social disapproval and often a resulting lack of self-belief.
In the 21st-century, British women wear Admiral’s uniforms and break global yachting records, yet their journey to professional sailing remains challenging, and the public face of sailing remains mostly male – evident in the lack of female Commodores in prestigious yacht clubs. Even as sailing becomes more accessible, the remarkable contributions within these stories are a precious source of inspiration to all women facing their own challenges today.
By:
Julia Jones
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 236mm,
Width: 162mm,
Spine: 36mm
Weight: 539g
ISBN: 9781399415460
ISBN 10: 1399415468
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 02 September 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Acknowledgements Introduction: Pink Shorts: Women overlooked 1 In the shade of one’s own hat brim Circumnavigating for pleasure 2 My mother sewed constantly Invisible women at sea 3 Blue gauze veils are useful but not ornamental New designs for ‘New Women’ 4 The coiffure harks back to primitive simplicity Outdoor women 5 My red skirt was to be the signal Independent Irish women 6 We don’t want any petticoats here Pioneering women in the First World War 7 Winter Shoes in Springtime Overcoming trauma 8 Fed up with this skirt nonsense Post-war pioneers and fickle yacht owners 9 Clothes not fit for a girl to wear Sailing on the last of the grain ships 10 Elastic-waisted blue serge skirts Pleasure sailors between the wars 11 I only joined for the hat Women sailors in the Second World War 12 Things will never be the same again Women’s lives disrupted by the war 13 I wore the right shoes and didn’t interfere Unexpected jobs in wartime 14 I handed him a bundle of garments for a flare Discovering courage 15 With my best suspender belt Adapting to the post-war world 16 No experience necessary Mixed-sex sailing, 1950s to 1970s 17 If I’m coming, I’m coming in my duffle coat Women in offshore racing 18 Heather at the stemhead Sailing from the Clyde 19 Nobody can find you Families at sea 20 Enormous biceps, baggy jeans and a jolly, yo-ho manner Femininity and determination 21 Hiring leaky oilskins from the charter company Women making their own way 22 Who wore the pants? The role of skipper 23 Trouser suits Married teamwork 24 I pinned a smile on my face Winners 25 Dressed like I wanted it Changing priorities Bibliography Endnotes Index
Julia Jones is a writer, editor and classic yacht owner, whose father served in the RNVSR. She is Literary Contributor for Yachting Monthly magazine. When she was a small girl, Julia’s parents bought Arthur Ransome’s yacht Peter Duck. She found that her berth on board was the snuggest place in the world for reading, writing and dreaming too. Years later she discovered her special reading place was where Ransome stored his typewriter. This inspired her ‘Strong Winds’ series of sailing adventures.
Reviews for Stars to Steer By: Celebrating the 20th century women who went to sea
Stars to Steer By is a long overdue celebration of the spirit of women's independence through sailing, shining a spotlight on achievements which, all too often, have been wiped from the sailing record; it advocates what all women sailors want - normalisation and a sense of fairness on the water. Julia's writing brings each of her subjects vividly to life, giving a voice to many pioneers whose success and trailblazing have been overshadowed by the achievements of men, just on the basis of gender. This book is the start of the correction of the record. * Katy Stickland, PBO Magazine * Stars To Steer By is an entertaining and inspiring cruise through the lives of women sailors: adventurers, racers, travellers, workers, pootlers, rich and poor, happy and sad. It’s a lovely portrait gallery as much as a history, and deserves a place on every sea-lover’s bookcase, whether you’re a real sailor or an arch fantasist. * Louisa Young *
