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MAIDEN

By Alex HOLMES

Biography - Development 2017

Once upon a time (in 1989), Tracy Edwards, a 23-year-old ship’s cook, had a dream – to pilot the first all women’s crew in the world’s toughest round-the-world yacht race. Thirty years on, New Black Films tells the epic story of the nine-month ‘Maiden’ voyage.

- Year of production
- 2017
- Genres
- Biography, Social issues, Drama
- Countries
- UNITED KINGDOM, NEW ZEALAND
- Director(s)
- Alex HOLMES
- Writer(s)
- Alex HOLMES
- Producer(s)
- Alex HOLMES (NEW BLACK FILMS), Victoria GREGORY (NEW BLACK FILMS)
- Synopsis
- Once upon a time (in 1989), Tracy Edwards, a 23-year-old ship’s cook, had a dream – to pilot the first all women’s crew in the world’s toughest round-the-world yacht race. Thirty years on, with exclusive access to remarkable on-board footage, New Black Films tells the epic story of the nine-month ‘Maiden’ voyage.
  
  In a chauvinistic world, Tracy’s idea was met with almost universal hostility: the crew were told they wouldn’t have the physical strength or mental toughness; sponsors turned her down on the basis it might kill their brand if they ended up with “female blood on their hands”.
  
  Cut together with an epic ’80’s soundtrack, this feature film will explore how, against all odds, the crew of the Maiden managed to not only survive the race – despite ice-bergs, whales, injuries and being sucked into a tornado – but beat the boys at their own game, winning the two toughest stages and coming second overall. ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ meets ‘The Full Monty’, this will be a moving, funny and often thrilling tribute to female camaraderie, and one woman’s unwavering determination to pursue her dream.
  
  “People are going to argue: men are going to say that they can’t do it and women are going to say that they can do it until time ends. So someone has to do it to prove – either way.” – Tracy Edwards, 1989