Julia has written extensively in books and articles about her love of sailing over the years so it seems surprising that this is the first time she has focused on telling the story of women who have enjoyed the freedom and independence of getting out on the water. There are more than 100 women included here, presented chronologically in mini biographies.

While Julia introduces us to the stories of some familiar names and faces in the form of Tracy Edwards, Ellen MacArthur and Clare Francis, she also highlights the women who went before. They may be less well known, but they are nonetheless extraordinary in their achievements in different ways.

There were long-suffering wives, maids and cooks, scientists, photographers and writers, navigators, single-handed sailors and explorers.

There was a woman who had seven children all born at sea or at port. There were women who struggled with dress codes of the era - voluminous skirts and straw boaters - as they raced. And women who were dependent on their husbands for property and money, of course. There were others who fought their way through prejudice and sexism in order to get on the water despite prohibitive sailing club practices.

Going through the decades, it's astonishing to read the ways in which women still face discrimination. But Julia also tells of women today who’ve competed in the Olympics, the growing number of ‘granny’ sailors, the women boatbuilders, the female sailing cartoonist, the admirals and skippers. It's a fabulous resource and a great acknowledgement of all these incredible individuals.