Stars to Steer By

Julia Jones is a writer, editor and classic yacht owner, whose father served in the RNVSR. She is Literary Contributor for Yachting Monthly magazine.When she was a small girl, Julia’s parents bought Arthur Ransome’s yacht Peter Duck. She found that her berth on board was the snuggest place in the world for reading, writing and dreaming too. Years later she discovered her special reading place was where Ransome stored his typewriter. This inspired her ‘Strong Winds’ series of sailing adventures.

• AcknowledgementsIntroduction: Pink Shorts: Women overlooked1 In the shade of one’s own hat brimCircumnavigating for pleasure2 My mother sewed constantlyInvisible women at sea3 Blue gauze veils are useful but not ornamentalNew designs for ‘New Women’4 The coiffure harks back to primitive simplicityOutdoor women5 My red skirt was to be the signalIndependent Irish women6 We don’t want any petticoats herePioneering women in the First World War7 Winter Shoes in SpringtimeOvercoming trauma8 Fed up with this skirt nonsensePost-war pioneers and fickle yacht owners9 Clothes not fit for a girl to wearSailing on the last of the grain ships10 Elastic-waisted blue serge skirtsPleasure sailors between the wars11 I only joined for the hatWomen sailors in the Second World War12 Things will never be the same againWomen’s lives disrupted by the war13 I wore the right shoes and didn’t interfereUnexpected jobs in wartime14 I handed him a bundle of garments for a flareDiscovering courage15 With my best suspender beltAdapting to the post-war world16 No experience necessaryMixed-sex sailing, 1950s to 1970s17 If I’m coming, I’m coming in my duffle coatWomen in offshore racing18 Heather at the stemheadSailing from the Clyde19 Nobody can find youFamilies at sea20 Enormous biceps, baggy jeans and a jolly, yo-ho mannerFemininity and determination21 Hiring leaky oilskins from the charter companyWomen making their own way22 Who wore the pants?The role of skipper23 Trouser suitsMarried teamwork24 I pinned a smile on my faceWinners25 Dressed like I wanted itChanging prioritiesBibliographyEndnotesIndex

Stars to Steer By is a long overdue celebration of the spirit of women's independence through sailing, shining a spotlight on achievements which, all too often, have been wiped from the sailing record; it advocates what all women sailors want - normalisation and a sense of fairness on the water. Julia's writing brings each of her subjects vividly to life, giving a voice to many pioneers whose success and trailblazing have been overshadowed by the achievements of men, just on the basis of gender. This book is the start of the correction of the record.