For nearly a century, British women had no presence in the America's Cup. That record will finally be broken in 2027 when 29-year-old Jemima Lines takes her place on the GB1 team, as reported by BBC Sport. She will become the first woman from Britain to race in the elite event in over 90 years, a long-awaited milestone in a sport known for male-dominated crews.
Engineering and exploration combined
Lines brings more than just physical skill to the team. A graduate with a mechanical engineering degree, she will work closely with the design team responsible for the AC75, a high-speed foiling monohull. Her background in adventure sports is equally impressive. She has guided treks to Everest base camp and holds records in altitude kite-surfing. Recently, she was Team GB's backup in kitefoiling at the 2024 Olympics, stepping in just behind gold medalist Ellie Aldridge.
The 38th America's Cup, set to take place in Naples, Italy, will begin in May 2027, with the final match scheduled for July 10-11. The event will follow a new rule requiring at least one woman in each five-person crew, a regulation that made Lines' inclusion mandatory. She has spoken of how her late father, Ralph Crathorne — a former British special forces soldier — would be proud of her achievement. Her sense of adventure, she says, was heavily influenced by his example.
A new chapter in a storied sport
Lines calls her selection a 'pivotal moment for our sport.' She views the opportunity as both surreal and historic, particularly when considering the gap in time since the last British woman, Phyllis Sopwith, raced in 1937. Her kitefoiling background, combined with her technical knowledge of engineering, makes her an ideal candidate for the AC75. The boat's complexity and speed require a blend of athleticism and innovation, a mix she is uniquely equipped to provide.
Lines says the GB1 team is already charged with energy and determination. Describing the environment as one full of 'daily drive,' she explains that the group is focused and driven, with no time to waste. While she refuses to give away specific strategy, she hints that competition has already begun, even if the actual racing remains on the horizon.
