SailGP: Brazil’s Martina Grael to become first female driver

“I’ve seen a lot of mixed teams and you feel like some roles are more adapted to women and others not so much, and you feel like maybe there should be a girl driving and see how it goes. So now will be the test.”

Teams compete in 14 grands prix across the season in high-performance catamarans which race at speeds of up to 100kph (62mph).

Since they were allowed to compete in 2021, 37 women have raced in the league – including Britain’s most successful female Olympic sailor Hannah Mills – but none have been given the role of driver until now.

A driver has command of the boat in a role similar to the skipper in other competitions.

The 2024-25 season gets under way in November in Dubai, with 11 national teams taking part in events across five continents.