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Celebrities Accused Of 'Yachting' In Hollywood — And What Being A 'Yacht Girl' Really Means

Rumors suggest some women are paid to play..

• Micki Spollen

Written on Jan 11, 2022

It’s easy to be envious when seeing the Instagram photos of young, carefree celebrity women seemingly having the time of their lives on yachts floating in exotic waters and in the VIP sections of the most exclusive clubs.

However, rumor has it there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to these ‘yacht girls’ and their extravagant lifestyles.

What is a yacht girl?

According to Urban Dictionary , a yacht girl is “an attractive young woman who finds ways to get access to luxurious surroundings by being available to wealthy men.”

For example, you may follow a woman or two on Instagram who always seems to be partying or vacationing somewhere expensive (notably without ever showing who she’s actually with). This is a person you could potentially describe as being a yacht girl.

And it’s not just those Instagram models and wannabe stars that are considered yacht girls. As you work up the wealth chain, you may be surprised to recognize some celebrity names synonymous with yachting.

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What is 'yachting' in Hollywood?

In Hollywood, the term yacht girl essentially means a woman who works as an escort for high-end clientele , not just on yachts but for any social event.

While the practice has only somewhat recently gained mainstream notoriety, if you think back on the many tabloid photos of models and actresses on yachts from years past, it appears to be something that's gone on in Hollywood “for 60 years,” according to Elie Nahas, who ran a Beirut-based modeling agency before being arrested on charges of running a prostitution ring in 2007.

In 2013, "The Hollywood Reporter" ran a feature describing this so-called yachting during the Cannes Film Festival.

“Every year during the festival there are 30 or 40 luxury yachts in the bay at Cannes, and every boat belongs to a very rich person. Every boat has about 10 girls on it; they are usually models, and they are usually nude or half nude,” Nahas told THR.

At the end of the night, each woman would receive a “gift,” a generous amount of money that the client would put in an envelope for her.

And while many of these women were self-proclaimed local prostitutes and escorts, the Cannes Film Festival is, of course, known for its celebrity attendees — and it’s rumored that celebrity women trying to fast-track a name for themselves in Hollywood become yacht girls, too.

“Women installed on yachts in Cannes during the film festival are called ‘yacht girls,’ and the line between professional prostitutes and B- or C-list Hollywood actresses and models who accept payment for sex with rich older men is sometimes very blurred, explains one film industry veteran,” Dana Kennedy wrote for THR.

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Some women in Hollywood have accused their celebrity peers of being yacht girls.

A 2017 blind item (celebrity gossip that doesn’t outwardly name the celebrity) allegedly written by a struggling actress describes being lured by another actress into the world of yachting :

“The actress I was talking to made it sound super easy and that she only had [sex] a few times with guys while yachting and that it was mostly partying and being arm candy,” she writes, explaining that eventually she agreed to try it for $25,000 upfront, but admitting that the experience was less than glamorous.

Blind item readers guessed that Canadian actress Vanessa Lengies wrote the blind item and further surmised that it may be one of the Glee actresses Naya Rivera or Heather Morris that introduced her to yachting. None of these claims have ever been substantiated.

If you believe the rumors, it would seem that yachting is a rite of passage for women hoping to “make it” in Hollywood, and even some celebrities we now consider A-List are thought to be former yacht girls.

In an excerpt from her 2021 memoir , “My Body,” Emily Ratajkowski details being paid $25,000 at the start of her career to go to the Superbowl with now-disgraced Malaysian financier Jho Low, who "‘just liked to have famous men and women around,’” she explains her manager told her at the time.

She writes about attending the star-studded Coachella on someone else’s dime, having drinks paid for at clubs, and attending afterparties with Oscar-winning actors before actually becoming a celebrity herself.

One could infer from this recollection that, in order to be able to tell these stories, Ratajkowski was herself a yacht girl. “My Body” suggests as much, and in it, she subtly gives away the identity of another celebrity woman who yachted alongside her.

Ratajkowski describes watching as Low gave shots to a Victoria’s Secret model. While she doesn’t name drop, Ratajkowski gives just enough information for readers to figure who that model likely was.

“Now she kept her eyes locked on him as he took his shot, throwing her head back dramatically as he did, only to quickly toss the alcohol over her shoulder,” Ratajkowski writes. “When he faced her again, her eyes sparkled and the famous dimples appeared on her cheeks.”

Low has since become a fugitive wanted for allegedly running an international money laundering scheme, and in 2017, Reuters reported that model Miranda Kerr — known for her dimples — was being ordered to return “diamond pendants, earrings and other jewelry worth about $8 million” that Low allegedly gifted her to government agents.

In 2017, Ratajkowski also posted a video on Instagram potentially outing Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber as yacht girls as they danced aboard a yacht during that year’s Cannes Film Festival.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata)

Many people have also accused Meghan Markle of yachting (but then again, what haven't people accused Markle of at this point).

People have pointed to an old photo of Markle on a yacht as proof that she’s a former yacht girl.

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Another old blind item also suggested the former actress was available to “rent.”

"If you see B actress post scantily clad photos of themselves on Social Media, this is often a Comm to [them] that this person is available to ‘rent’ for a weekend of ‘yachting,’” the tweet says, including a photo of Markle in a swimsuit.

"If you see B actress post scantily clad photos of themselves on Social Media, this is often a Comm to [them] that this person is available to “rent” for a weekend of “yachting”. Typically worth $30K for the “party” - Meghan Markle @3Days3Nights https://t.co/E3WfMjnVL9 pic.twitter.com/QFv476GL0b — yacht girl (@yachtgirlmm) November 27, 2019

Markle’s close friendship pre-Harry with actress Priyanka Chopra has naturally led some to guess that Chopra once yachted as well.

Another actress that faces endless rumors of yachting is Russian actress Irina Shayk , which according to THR, is par for the course as the outlet writes that yachting your way to stardom happens with “disturbing frequency,” particularly when it comes to foreign-born actresses.

According to THR, who claims to know “of at least one now-prominent actress who made her first connections on a Cannes yacht and quickly landed her debut role in a U.S.-shot movie,” such as with Shayk’s 2014 film “Hercules,” it’s “a red flag any time you see a foreign-born actress with no credits suddenly make her way into a U.S.-shot movie.”

Of course, when it comes to yachting in Hollywood, all of these claims appear to be unfounded.

These rumors make for good gossip, whether you’re talking about low-level social media influencers or high-profile celebrity actresses.

However, nothing is proven, leaving us to wonder any time we see a photo of women on a yacht.

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Micki Spollen is an editor, writer, and traveler focused on relationships, news, and pop culture. Follow her on Instagram .

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Decoding Hollywood's Disturbing "Yachting" Culture Beneath the Glamour

Published Dec. 19 2023, 10:41 p.m. ET

We explore the hidden meaning of "yachting" in Hollywood: individuals, often women, get paid large sums to spend time with wealthy individuals for career advancement.

Individuals may face uncomfortable situations, including sexual assault, trading dignity for fame, and money in a corrupt industry.

Prominent figures like Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Nina Dobrev, Hailey Bieber, and Emily Ratajkowski have all been linked anecdotally to Nonsense Pudding .

Thanks to influencers like Deux Moi , normies are finally getting a peek into the life of the rich and famous. And while pictures aboard yachts surrounded by luxury may look glamorous to all of us, it isn't necessarily all that it’s cracked up to be. Stories have been coming out for decades about people, often women, who subject themselves to “yachting.”

We may associate yachting with rich guys sailing in races, but it actually has a much darker meaning in Hollywood . It’s often considered Hollywood’s oldest “open secret,” but what actually is “yachting”? Keep reading for all of the details.

In Hollywood, "yachting" is the practice of getting paid large sums of money to spend time with wealthy people.

At its most innocent, “yachting” is a PR opportunity for an up-and-coming actor or model. However, it’s often much more sinister. Basically, typically women on their way up in the industry may get paid a large sum of money — five, six, or even seven figures — to spend time with wealthy men. The benefit for the women is the money, the photo ops of luxury, and a potential opportunity to meet someone who could give them a leg up in the industry.

However, they often aren’t told what strings are attached before agreeing to “yacht” with someone. Many of these excursions often lead to sex and other forms of assault. Although the women tend to be up and coming celebs and influencers, they are essentially selling their body for the entirety of their time on the yacht. It gives “the implication” a whole new meaning.

“Yachting” is a common and known practice in Hollywood, but it could also be considered prostitution.

In 2007, businessman Elie Nahas was convicted of running a prostitution ring at the Cannes Film Festival. He claimed that he was only responsible for getting women to Cannes and had nothing to do with what happened after, but even if he did, there are hundreds of other men doing the same thing.

Many of us see pictures of celebrities on yachts and luxury vacations and think, "Wow, imagine living that life!" But in reality, they're being paid to spend time with someone they may not like just because it could further their career. But in doing so, many give up their bodies.

In fact, one Redditor wrote : “You are essentially being bought for a certain period of time. Hence why people get drugged, raped, fondled, sleep with men older than their fathers, pissed and shat on. Once everything is said and done, the trauma and memories of doing those things stay with you forever. Your dignity is being leveraged for fame and money. Let’s not forget a lot of these encounters are filmed and can easily be used to blackmail these young stars.”

It’s an example of powerful men taking advantage of young women with dreams of succeeding in an already corrupt industry. But the practice is so common that stories have circulated about Selena Gomez , Ariana Grande, Kylie and Kendall Jenner , Nina Dobrev, Hailey Bieber, and many other big stars.

@al.laure1209 Best way to fill the pool 🛥 #yacht #yachtlife #yachtdesign #boat #boating #luxuryyacht #sailing #superyacht #topyacht #yachtinglife #yachtingworld #yachting #yachtlifestyle #yachtcrew #cannes #cannesyachtingfestival ♬ original sound - Alex

Emily Ratajkowski also talks about it in her memoir, My Body . She explains how she was paid $25,000 early on in her career just to accompany Jho Low to the Super Bowl, without understanding what she was expected to do. So while the idea of riding around on a luxury yacht might sound ideal, many paths there aren’t as great.

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“Yachting” is about more than being paid to party, it’s Hollywood’s murkiest open secret

What is the meaning behind the term "yacht girl" and why is it associated with Megan Markle?

The term "yacht girl" refers to a controversial concept in which young women, often models or aspiring actresses, are rumored to engage in relationships or companionship with wealthy individuals in exchange for financial benefits, luxurious experiences, or career opportunities. These relationships are said to occur within the context of luxury yachting trips, where the women accompany wealthy individuals on their yachts.

Association with Megan Markle: There have been rumors and speculation regarding Megan Markle's alleged involvement as a "yacht girl." However, it is important to note that these claims are unsubstantiated and lack concrete evidence. Megan Markle is a well-known actress and philanthropist who gained significant public attention when she married Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in 2018. The association between Megan Markle and the term "yacht girl" seems to be based on speculation and gossip rather than factual information.

It is crucial to approach such rumors with skepticism and consider the lack of credible evidence supporting these claims. Megan Markle's personal and professional achievements should be evaluated based on verified information rather than unfounded rumors.

Learn more:

• YouTuber SLOAN Says Meghan Markle Was a Yacht Girl and Implies She Was Involved With Epstein and Prince Andrew Before Harry | Lipstick Alley

Continue the conversation

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What Is a Yacht Girl? The Dark TikTok Secret Explained

W hen you think of the phrase “ perfect summer ,” what comes to mind? For some, it’s being on a boat big enough to hold all of their friends. Sun-kissed skin, a gentle breeze, h’ordeuvres and libations. Music is pumping and love is flowing as we swag surf like ocean waves. Something about the water and being on a huge boat makes this new core memory all the more special. That’s a yacht fantasy, shared by a girl’s girl.

However, “yacht girls” do yachting a lot more often and have a different take on the aquatic activity. So, what happens in the cases when billionaires join the party, when money is no object and time is even more abundant? Here’s where we drop the anchor and get to the bottom of the question, “What is a yacht girl?”

Yachting vs. Being a Yacht Girl

According to TikTok , yachting is an experience afforded to folks who are accustomed to sailing on big boats. Yacht girls, however, take on those appearances and some extra duties too. They serve as the entertainment for well-off men that request their company. They must look the part and have time to spare, as traveling is a part of the deal. A background in service work may come in handy as drinks and appetizers are often on the menu. The girls may find that they’re on the menu too, but it’s been said that the money makes it worth it. A few celebrities may have had a past in yachting before evolving in their careers, from Nina Dobrev and Miranda Kerr to Nicole Scherzinger and Chantel Jeffries.

The Life of a Yacht Girl

As we know, with money comes a certain amount of power and with that comes influence. Yacht girls who have agency-backing might feel a bit more protected than those booking gigs on their own or through a friend. The yacht environments are high-pressure for girl’s who aren’t willing to accommodate guests requests. And captains have been known to minimize yacht girls’ concerns. A TikToker shared one of her follower’s stories about their “yacht girl” experience: what the expectations were, what she was willing and not willing to do. 

When sex is apart of the expectations , payment comes in the form of money and sometimes jewels (i.e. $80,000 and a diamond bracelet). Seeing as escort services remain illegal and taboo, yachting is still a rather secret way of living, leading to a lot of mistreatment going under the radar. The alleged celebrities and Instagram models who participate in this industry have successfully kept it all under wraps, even as personal accounts and documentaries surface. As the digging deepens though, we can expect to hear more horrifying stories about this style of travel that has developed sinister undertones. 

Safety and Rules

For those who are only embracing the aesthetic and a good time with friends, by all means, live your life. Don the striped bathing suits and two-pieces. These are memories to be made and reflected upon in years to come. However, if you find yourself on the other side of yachting, be sure to put safety first and write your own rules when you can.

The post What Is a Yacht Girl? The Dark TikTok Secret Explained appeared first on 21Ninety .

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• age of sail
• ocean-going
• under sail idiom

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serious and determined, especially too serious and unable to find your own actions funny

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yachtswoman

[ yots -w oo m- uh n ]

• a woman who owns or sails a yacht , or who is devoted to yachting . yacht .

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I soon discovered that the lady had been something of a yachtswoman, and seemed perfectly at home on the heaving ocean.

She is a golfer, a yachtswoman, fond of sport generally, and withal a charming hostess.

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Definition of yachtswoman noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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29 Celebrities Having #YachtGirlSummers

Last week, Issa Rae threw her third annual yacht party, attended by stars including Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, and Logan Browning. The tradition was born out of the desire to, as she put it during a recent Tonight Show appearance , "do yacht ish." Kylie Jenner also set sail this week; she is spending her 22nd birthday cruising the Mediterranean with friends and family on a yacht that costs $1M a week to rent. Rae is right about one thing: yachting is an art form. A culture. A genre of Instagram posts that we can't get enough of. Here, 29 celebs just doing #YachtShit.

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Women and Boat Ownership

By: Jenn Harkness women on the water

How the Boating Industry Can Grow

The Boating Industry is missing out on a massive piece of the economic pie as we speak. Is it Sexism? There has been a gender bias in boating that implies women are mostly there to do galley work or look pretty on the bow. They fail to see that more women are interested in being captains, doing maintenance of all kinds, and owning a boat of their own. Women are 51% of the population, 46.7% of the overall workforce , and 50.2% of the college-educated workforce. We are highly capable, enthusiastic, and increasingly have cash for leisure.

A possible reason more women do not own boats is the gender pay gap. Women make 85% of what men make .  With that said, times are changing fast. Currently, 25% of women are the larger wage earners in the household. By 2028 women are set to surpass men’s salaries . As I type this, women make 85% of the purchasing decisions for families and hold 60% of the nation’s wealth. On top of that, more women are choosing to be child-free and pursuing their passions. There is an opportunity here to welcome women into boat ownership. There is also an opportunity to realize that many women are already co-owners of boats with male partners. They deserve recognition and respect as such.

As we all know, boats take money, lots of it. As a boat owner myself, when I first heard the term B.O.A.T: “break out another thousand”, I laughed with commiseration. A new 26-foot boat costs around $80,000. Add in maintenance fees, moorage, and club memberships, it can be around 10k extra a year. Even if you buy an old boat and refit it yourself, as I did, the costs are still high. The sweat, time, and grit are even higher. 

Any boat owner will also tell you that it can be complicated and time-consuming to care for a yacht properly. Part of the joy of owning a boat is knowing its systems and how to maintain them. Gender bias is an unnecessary obstacle and deterrent to continuing on the path of boating for women. I am going to outline common struggles and suggestions for solutions. 

These are based on true stories: 

• A woman is at a boat show. The yacht broker addresses her male friend or partner only. They direct the woman to the galley. They focus on the comfort amenities with her and the sail drive and engine with him. 
• A woman is actively working on her boat alone and another boater asks who is helping her, or where the captain is. If a female boat owner has a boating male partner or friend, people assume he is doing the work for her. If she clarifies all of this and states this is her boat and she is doing the work herself, there is shock and surprise. If she does get help, people overemphasize it to take away any expertise she has.
• A woman goes into a marine store to look for parts. She asks some questions. The staff say things like, “It’s complicated,” or “You should hire someone,” or worriedly, “Are you doing this yourself?” They also do the obvious mansplaining. I once had someone explain to me how the fuses I was buying worked in my electrical panel. I didn’t ask for that input and he was also incorrect.
• A woman takes a class on diesel engines, men take over when it is her turn to check the pistons. They talk over her or down to her when she asks or answers a question. They make comments about her gender in the class like, “It’s so cute when women want to work on engines.” They try to flirt with her or hit on her. 
• A woman goes to a boat parts swap, she is looking for shackles and cleats, she keeps being directed to dishes and kitchenware. They overbid items thinking she doesn’t know their worth, or try to sell her things she doesn’t need with explanations that are incorrect. I’m not saying this doesn’t happen to men as well, but it happens with women more.

How Can The Boating Industry Support Women?

CHECK BIAS. Everyone has biases— conscious or unconscious assumptions and judgments based on our personal and cultural experiences and norms. Assuming that only men are sailors or boat owners is an example of cultural bias. What if we all started to look at our bias and assumptions of gender and get curious instead? 

A good rule of thumb is to ASK QUESTIONS . If I was asked by a broker what I wanted to see at a boat show, I would say, “I would like to see the electrical system and batteries, the engine and driveshaft. I want to see the performance numbers and talk about how she sails.” Then talk to me like a skilled sailor and potential buyer—because I am.

BETTER MARKETING. The boating industry can start using more pictures of women at the helm or in foul weather gear on big seas. They could show us in the back of the boat and as boat owners. They could also start making some foul weather gear that fits better, or inquiring what women want on boat design and rigging.  

REPRESENTATION AND OPPORTUNITY. We could have more representation and articles written by women for women. We could have more classes and opportunities for women-led by women. We could fund women’s programs. We could learn to listen to what women need and want.

SUPPORT. In the Pacific Northwest, we have a robust sailing community with a lot of women, thanks to community support from all genders. We still get assumptions up here for sure, but we also have men in the industry who treat us like everyone else. Bonus points for the men in our community who help name and call out sexism where they see it. Those people get my business time and again. I also go out of my way to support other women in this industry who are true experts at their craft. 

Besides being the socially kind and responsible thing to do, encouraging women into the sport and industry is also good for business. Research is guiding us to be more inclusive and diverse in the industry through our products and staff in order to grow profits. In 2020 with the pandemic, Boat Trader saw an increase of 75% boat sales to women. Owning a boat is one of the most rewarding and fun endeavors I have ever experienced. I would love to see more women encouraged into boat ownership. We are here, we are sailors, we love the water just as much as anyone. 

So get on board, give us the respect we deserve, and give us some good deals.

Jenn Harkness, aka,  Skipper Jenn , is a human being, artist, coach, therapist, writer, friend, mermaid, student of life and lover of all shine and sparkle. She is also Editor-in-Chief of the  Women Who Sail  Newsletter. May we all sail in peace.

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With An All-Female Crew, 'Maiden' Sailed Around The World And Into History

Dave Davies

"We weren't surprised that there was resistance to an all-female crew in the race ..." says Tracy Edwards, who assembled the first all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race. "But I was shocked at the level of anger there was that we wanted to do this, because why is this making you angry?" Courtesy of Tracy Edwards and Sony Pictures Classics hide caption

"We weren't surprised that there was resistance to an all-female crew in the race ..." says Tracy Edwards, who assembled the first all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race. "But I was shocked at the level of anger there was that we wanted to do this, because why is this making you angry?"

In the 1980s, Tracy Edwards dreamed of racing a sailboat around the world. But at the time, open ocean sailboat racing was a male-dominated sport. She was only able to sign on as a cook for an all-male team in the 1985-86 Whitbread Round the World Race, a grueling 33,000 mile endeavor.

Afterward, when she still wasn't able to crew, she decided to take matters into her own hands: "My mom always told me, 'If you don't like the way the world looks, change it,'" she says. "So I thought, OK, I will."

In 1989, Edwards, then 26-years-old, assembled an all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race. The idea was unthinkable to many of the men in the world of yacht-racing, and backlash was intense.

"We had so much obstruction and criticism and anger," she says. "Guys used to say to us, with absolute certainty, 'You're going to die.'"

But Edwards didn't back down: "We all became very aware, as a crew, as a team, that we were fighting for all women, and actually anyone who's been told they can't do anything," she says.

Edwards and her 12-woman crew restored an old racing yacht, which they christened Maiden, and finished the nine-month race second in their class. Now, a new documentary, Maiden , retraces their voyage.

Interview Highlights

On restoring an old racing yacht while the male crews had new boats

We found an old, secondhand racing yacht with a pedigree. ... She was in a terrible state, and we put her on a ship and we brought her back to the U.K. and then I gave the girls sledgehammers and I said, "Right, take her apart," and we did. We stripped the inside of the boat. We stripped the deck. We took the mast out. We took everything apart. ...

This was also a bit of a first, because people didn't usually see women in shipyards. So that was an interesting situation. ... All these other guys had a shore team. They had brand new boats. So they didn't really need to do any work on them. And so they'd sit in a cafe and watch us as we were putting this boat together. ...

Although, as I say, there was a very nice part of that sort of, being part of this big Whitbread family, is that if you did go and ask for help, 99.9 percent of the time you would get it. You know, you might get a bit of a snide, "Ugh, you know if you need help ...," kind of thing, but you know, beggars can't be choosers.

But the great thing about doing what we did the way we did it was we learned everything we needed to know about the boat. We put every single item into that boat, onto that boat. We painted her. We put the rig in. We did the rigging. We did the electronics, the plumbing, the [navigation] station. ... So when we put Maiden in the water, I would say that we, as a crew, knew our boat better than any other team in the race.

"We were always chatting, always talking," Edwards (left, with crewmate Mikaela Von Koskull) says of the Maiden's voyage. "I don't think there's one subject that we didn't cover in depth inside, outside and backwards." Courtesy of Tracy Edwards and Sony Pictures Classics hide caption

"We were always chatting, always talking," Edwards (left, with crewmate Mikaela Von Koskull) says of the Maiden's voyage. "I don't think there's one subject that we didn't cover in depth inside, outside and backwards."

On the media's reaction to an all-female crew

We weren't surprised that there was resistance to an all-female crew in the race. Sailing is one of the last bastions of patriarchy. ... It is so entrenched. We're a maritime nation. It's entrenched in our history, in our warfare, in our culture, and it is extremely male-dominated. ... So I wasn't surprised there was resistance, but I was shocked at the level of anger there was that we wanted to do this, because why is this making you angry? We're only going out there and doing what we want to do.

On how at the time she didn't think of herself as a feminist — and said so in an interview — and why she changed her mind

In the '80s, "feminist" was an accusation. It wasn't a nice title. It had all sorts of horrible connotations, and really, it had been made into a word that women should be ashamed of — I think with deliberate reason. ... I was very young. I was 23, 24 ... [and] I didn't want people not to like me. You care very much, at that age, that people like you. ...

But I do remember [after that interview] my mum said to me, "I am so surprised that you don't think you're a feminist, and I'm not going to tell you what you should say, but I think you need to have a bit of a think about that one."

And then when we got to New Zealand and we won that leg [of the race] and we were getting the same stupid, crass, banal questions that we had on every other leg, I just thought, you know what? I think this is bigger than us, and bigger than Maiden, and bigger than anything we've been tackling. This is about equality. And I think I am a huge, fat feminist. I think I absolutely am! And I stood up for the first time in my life and I said something that might hurt me and might make me not likable, and I took pride in it, and it was an extraordinary experience.

On how her experience with a male crew was different than the female crew

[Male-run boats are] very smelly. It's very messy. There's a lot of swearing and then there are days when guys don't talk to each other. What is that? So that was very weird. A lot of tension, testosterone, egos. I mean, it was an interesting experience, that nine months, [the] first time and last time I'd ever been with 17 men and sort of watching them in their environments, if you like, their natural habitat. ...

Then, doing an all-female crew, then I noticed, wow, there's a huge difference between a group of women and a group of men. ... I prefer sailing around the world with an all-female crew. I prefer sailing with women anyway — much cleaner. We do tend to wash, even if it was in cold, salt water. More use of deodorant as well, I have noticed. But we were always chatting, always talking. ... We did talk the whole way 'round the world. I don't think there's one subject that we didn't cover in depth inside, outside and backwards.

Women are kinder to each other, and in a much more obvious way. We're actually more nurturing and caring, I think. And if you saw someone scared or worried or anxious or a bit down, there'd always be someone that would put their arm around your shoulder and say, "Cuppa tea?"

On the conditions on the Southern Ocean near the South Pole

Your body starts to deteriorate as soon as you cross the start line. Pain and cold are the quickest ways to lose weight. You can get frostbite in your fingers and toes. It's minus 20, minus 30 degrees below freezing. You are constantly damp because salt water doesn't dry. So the girls up on deck would be miserable — cold, wet, miserable. Freezing fingers and toes. Tons of clothing on so you can barely move. The food's revolting. So you just shovel it down your throat as quickly as possible and and try and get as much sleep as possible with this four [hour]-on/four-off watch system. It's also a sensory deprivation. There's no sun. There's no blue sky, it's gray, and the boat's gray, and everything's gray.

On Maiden's second-place finish in the Whitbread Round the World Race

Thousands of boaters cheered Maiden's crew as they finished the round the world race. Courtesy of Andrew Sassoli-Walker and Sony Pictures Classics hide caption

Thousands of boaters cheered Maiden's crew as they finished the round the world race.

We came second in our class overall, which is the best result for British boat since 1977, and actually hasn't been beaten yet, but that didn't mean much to us at the time. When you finish a race like, that you go through a mixture of emotions. Obviously if you're winning it's all happiness and wonderful and fantastic. We hadn't won; we've come second, and it took me a long time to come to terms with that, because second is nowhere in racing. But as Claire [Warren, the ship doctor] says in the film — and she's very right — there was a bigger picture, and the bigger picture was what we had achieved.

On the reception when Maiden arrived in England

It was sunrise. There wasn't really that much wind, and we were so close to ... [the] final stretch, and as we were going up Southampton Water, hundreds of boats came out to meet us and they would come towards us, turn round, and start sailing with us. So the final two hours of the boat was two hours I will never forget as long as I live, surrounded by thousands of people on hundreds of boats throwing flowers and cheering. It was absolutely amazing. And crossing the finishing line we knew, OK, we hadn't won, but we had sailed into the history books, and we are first, and you can't beat being first to do something.

Lauren Krenzel and Thea Chaloner produced and edited this interview for broadcast. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Beth Novey adapted it for the Web.

All The Hidden Meanings Behind Taylor Swift's "Mad Woman" Lyrics

"Cause you took everything from me."

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Using her newfound political voice, Taylor touches on one of the major injustices women face. Women (especially celebrities) are constantly ridiculed by men, society, and, yes, even other women. But when you dare to fight back at your aggressors, you're labelled "emotional" and "crazy." Women are expected to just lay down and take whatever is thrown at them with a smile.

Taylor Swift folklore [Explicit]

In the melancholy tune, Taylor likens this to her experience being bullied by Scooter – or at least that's what fans think. All over the social media platform, Swifties are reveling in what they believe is an epic takedown of the music manager.

Ahead, read up on all the secret meanings behind "Mad Woman," via Genius .

"Mad Woman" Lyrics

What did you think I'd say to that? Does a scorpion sting when fighting back? They strike to kill, and you know I will You know I will What do you sing on your drive home? Do you see my face in the neighbor's lawn? Does she smile? Or does she mouth, "fuck you forever"?

Right off the bat, Taylor is taking shots. The first few lyrics reference her battle with Scooter, as she essentially asks: what else did you expect me do after you screwed me over? I'm going to fight back.

Every time you call me crazy, I get more crazy What about that? And when you say I seem angry, I get more angry

This summarizes the gaslighting that women often go through. A perfectly reasonable reaction is labeled crazy.

And there's nothing like a mad woman What a shame she went mad No one likes a mad woman You made her like that And you'll poke that bear 'til her claws come out And you find something to wrap your noose around And there's nothing like a mad woman

Again, the chorus goes deeper into the idea that women must smile through insults and injury. Then, once you react, you're villainized for it.

Now I breathe flames each time I talk My cannons all firin' at your yacht They say, "Move on" but you know I won't And women like hunting witches too Doing your dirtiest work for you It's obvious that wanting me dead Has really brought you two together

Whew, the Scooter references JUMPED out. In the midst of her feud with Scooter, his wife Yael Cohen did his "dirtiest work," by calling Taylor out in an Instagram post . Taylor also mentions that uniting to fight her "really brought you two together," which could be a reference to Scooter and Yael or even a nod to Justin Bieber and Kanye West, who have both taken part in the feud .

Every time you call me crazy, I get more crazy What about that? And when you say I seem angry, I get more angry And there's nothing like a mad woman What a shame she went mad No one likes a mad woman You made her like that And you'll poke that bear 'til her claws come out And you find something to wrap your noose around And there's nothing like a mad woman I'm taking my time, taking my time 'Cause you took everything from me Watching you climb, watching you climb Over people like me The master of spin has a couple side flings Good wives always know She should be mad, should be scathing like me, but

WOW. It seems that Taylor is accusing Scooter of having "side flings" during his marriage. The "master of spin" seems to reference musical production, as well as his ability to "spin" a situation in his favor.

No one likes a mad woman What a shame she went mad You made her like that

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Kelsey is Seventeen.com's fashion expert and resident Harry Potter nerd. At the office, she spends her day writing about style, beauty, and literally every move Kylie Jenner makes. On the weekends, you can find her sifting through vintage shops and hunting for the perfect burger. Follow her on Instagram at @klstieg.

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Woman takes on Mornington Yacht Club over backdown on 'misogynistic' boat name ban

By Zilla Gordon

ABC Radio Melbourne

Topic: Outdoor Recreational Activities

Mornington Yacht Club has overturned its decision for a controversial name to be changed. ( www.sxc.hu: John Nyberg, file photo )

A Melbourne woman has taken a yacht club to task over its backflip on a ban on a lewd boat name.

Key points:

• Mornington Yacht Club initially said it would give an owner two weeks to change the name of a boat deemed offensive
• The order was revoked after verbal and written communication with a boat owner asked to change its name
• The club says it has implemented a policy to ensure names are appropriate and has identified several yachts that could be in breach

When Kitty O'Sullivan planned to move to the coast south of Melbourne in her retirement a few years ago, she and her husband set their sights on joining the Mornington Yacht Club.

While her and her husband both became members, Ms O'Sullivan said she had concerns about the names of some of the boats moored at the club's marina.

"I'm in the boat yard and my husband and with two of our daughters in their 20s and my husband points out this boat name Himalayan Women," she said.

Ms O'Sullivan said the boat name, with its double meaning, was "misogynistic". 

She said two other boats — Screaming Seamen and Big Black C*ck — also troubled her.

"I bumped into the commander and pointed [the boats] out and was told to write a letter of complaint to the board," she said.

The letter about Himalayan Women was tabled at a board meeting in September last year, where it was decided the owner had two weeks to rename the boat.

'Not enough evidence' for change 

However, Ms O'Sullivan said another meeting with more senior-ranked members was called, which overturned the push to rename the boat.

"I received a letter from the board saying thank you for your interest, and that it has been dealt with," she said.

Ms O'Sullivan complained about several boat names she believed were sexist. ( Supplied: Facebook )

In correspondence sighted by the ABC, the club's vice commodore, John Underwood, said there was not "enough evidence" for the boat name Himalayan Women to be changed.

It said the club had received a letter from the owner of the boat and "a number of both female and male club members were surveyed, and the boat name to them has been deemed not to be unduly offence (sic),"

Mr Underwood wrote that her complaint had however prompted the board to investigate its position on the appropriateness of boat names.

Unhappy with the response, Ms O'Sullivan contacted Sailing Australia who she said understood her concern.

"Sailing Australia spoke with the club's Commodore and reminded him of his responsibilities," she said.

"But nothing was done."

Speaking out sparks backlash

In March, Ms O'Sullivan reached out to The Mornington Peninsula News and The Age saying she hoped it would put pressure on the club.

Ms O'Sullivan wants boat names that degrade woman changed at Mornington Yacht Club. ( Supplied: Facebook/Mornington Yacht Club )

Instead, she was sent a letter saying she may have brought the club's name into disrepute and asking her to confirm that matter was resolved.

"Of immediate concern to the board is the prospect of your comments having causing (sic) reputation damage to MYC that could jeopardise important funding arrangements including sponsorship that enables us to provide important community programs and donates to the MYC Foundation which assist youth training programs," the letter said. "The board originally agreed that they would request that the boat owner change the name, however after verbal communications and a formal written response was received from the boat owner. "After assessing this feedback, along with the boat owner's response and bearing in mind that this boat has sailed extensively at many clubs on Port Phillip for approximately a decade without apparent complaint, the board resolved at the following meeting not to take any action in relation to the name."

The letter said the club had implemented a policy to "ensure the appropriateness of boat names going forward".

It said it had identified "several" boats that might contravene the policy and that those names would be changed.

Mornington Yacht Club has been contacted for comment.

Sailing Australia, a club sponsor, declined to comment.