Paper short abstract:

This presentation I would like to discuss how to approach sailing from an intersectional angle, keeping in mind the tensions with indigenous/settler politics in Australia. My research will focus on the experiences of participating marginalised peoples in the sport.

Paper long abstract:

Sailing, and especially competitive sailing, is an elite, masculine sport from multiple perspectives. With expensive gear, boats, and the upkeep, sailing is particularly accessible for those with higher income or sponsorships, and a strong social network in the field. The strong links with coloniality, as settlers arrived in Australia on sailing ships, problematise the sport further. Women have historically been seen as bringing ‘bad luck’ to sailing voyages, and still struggle to participate in competitions as crew or skippers who are seen as having equal potential to men. While sailing is known for being a sustainable way of transport, in practice it has many issues with pollution and use of chemicals or other unsustainable materials. Interestingly, participation of marginalised peoples seems to coincide with an activist stance. In 2018, the all-female team Ocean Respect Racing participated in the Sydney-Hobart Race under skipper Stacey Jackson, who actively call attention to gender equality and ocean sustainability in the sport. In 2019, the all-Indigenous team Tribal Warrior participated in the same race, wanting to show that anything is possible for Aboriginal peoples in Australia.

I would like to discuss in this panel how to approach the sport from an intersectional angle, keeping in mind the tensions with indigenous/settler politics in Australia. My research, currently still in its early phase, will focus on the participation of marginalized peoples in the sport, how they experience their participation and how they engage with their more-than-human counterparts in comparison to dominant sailors.