Jemima Lines has been named to the GB1 crew for the 38th America's Cup in Naples, Italy. This selection makes the 29-year-old the first British woman to join such a team in nine decades.
Closing the gap since Phyllis Sopwith's 1930s runs
The selection of Jemima Lines ends a staggering drought for British women in elite yachting. According to the report, the last British woman to compete aboard a challenger was Phyllis Sopwith, who appeared in the 1934 and 1937 competitions. This 90-year hiatus highlights the historically exclusionary nature of the America's Cup, a trophy with a 175-year legacy that has remained overwhelmingly male-dominated.
Lines' entry into the GB1 crew represents more than a personal milestone; it is a correction of a century-long trend. By bridging the gap between the era of Phyllis Sopwith and the modern AC75 yacht, Jemima Lines serves as a visible marker of the sport's shift toward gender parity.
The 2027 Naples mandate for female crew members
The 38th America's Cup, scheduled for Naples,Italy, in 2027, introduces a systemic change to the competition's rules. For the first time in the event's history, every five-person crew is required to include at least one woman. This mandatory quota is the primary driver behind the increased visibility of female athletes in the upcoming cycle, ensuring that diversity is a requirement rather than an afterthought.
As the report notes, this rule change is a deliberate effort to modernize the sport. For Jemima Lines, who previoously served as the backup to Olympic gold medallist Ellie Aldridge at the Paris 2024 Games, the mandate provides a structured pathway into a high-performance environment that was previously inaccessible to women.
How a mechanical engineering degree shapes the AC75
Jemima Lines brings a dual-threat skill set to the GB1 team, combining elite athleticism with technical expertise. Holding a degree in mechanical engineering, Lines will not only be active on the water but will also contribute to the design and development of the tools and systems used on the AC75 yacht. This integration of engineering and sailing is critical, as the America's Cup is as much a contest of aerospace-grade technology as it is of nautical skill.
Beyond her academic credentials, Jemima Lines possesses a background in extreme environments, having worked as a guide at Everest basecamp and set altitude records for kite surfing. this versatility makes her a strategic asset for the GB1 team as they navigate the demanding physical conditions of the 2027 race.
The GB1 roster and the road to July 10
Jemima Lines joins a high-caliber GB1 crew that includes Bleddyn Mon, Dylan Fletcher, Ben Cornish, and Andrea Tesei. The team is currently in a high-pressure design and testing phase, leading up to the racing that begins in May 2027, with the final Match scheduled for July 10-11.
While the report confirms the roster and the timeline, several specifics remain unverified. It is currently unclear how the GB1 team is adapting its internal communication and training protocols to integrate the new gender mandate, or which specific engineering systems Jemima Lines will lead. Furthermore, the report focuses on the British perspective; it remains to be seen how other international challengers are filling their mandatory female slots and whether this is leading to a broader talent search across different sailing disciplines.
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