Nearly 30 years before sailing got its first-ever Women's America's Cup, a team called Mighty Mary nearly broke the format wide open. A new documentary lands in US cinemas from 11 September, and the timing couldn't be sharper.
Mighty Mary is narrated by Hugh Jackman and Elizabeth Banks, directed by 1992 Olympic rower turned filmmaker Mary Mazzio, and backed by Skydance Sports and Paramount's Republic Pictures. It tells the story of the women's syndicate businessman Bill Koch assembled for the 1995 America's Cup defence, off the back of an open call ad in the New York Times that drew more than 600 applicants.
1995 in sixty seconds
The crew, led by captain Dawn Riley with New Zealand Olympic medallist Leslie Egnot on the helm, was built from Olympic rowers, a weightlifter and a bodybuilder. They made an immediate impression, beating Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes in their first race of the regatta. Months later, they did it again in a semi-final race that should have eliminated Conner. A deal between the three defender syndicates instead sent all three teams into the final. Conner went on to win the defender series before losing the America's Cup to Team New Zealand.
Fast forward to 2024
It took until October 2024 for the sport to run a standalone women's event. The inaugural Puig Women's America's Cup drew 12 teams and 17 Olympic medallists to Barcelona, racing AC40 foiling monohulls. Emirates Team New Zealand fielded Jo Aleh, Liv Mackay, Molly Meech and Gemma Jones. The title went to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. In the same Barcelona window, ETNZ's men's team, skippered by Peter Burling, claimed the 37th America's Cup itself, beating INEOS Britannia 7-2 for a third consecutive victory.
What's next
The Cup is already building toward Naples 2027. The first Preliminary Regatta was held in Cagliari in May, with the second underway in Naples from 24-27 September. Women's and Youth events are confirmed to continue, and for the first time, the main AC75 crew itself will include a mandated female sailor.
Nearly 30 years is a long gap between a nearly-there and an actual event. Mighty Mary is a reminder of how close it came the first time.
