Dawn Riley is one of the most talented female sailors and leaders in her sport. With four America’s Cups and two Whitbread Round the World races to her name, she is an talented veteran and the reference in women’s sailing.
The only female member of the winning 1992 America's Cup team, America3, Riley was also CEO and Team Captain for the historic all-women Cup team America3, and sailed on the following mixed America True campaign in 2000.
The 32nd America’s Cup, her fourth, has been with French challenger Areva Challenge, where her role as General Manager was combined with an active participation on the sailing team. One of only three women on the sailing team this time, Dawn projects strength, confidence and forthrightness - clear requirements for anyone competing at this level, and explain her impressive sailing curriculum vitae.
It is nearly two weeks since the end of Round Robin Two of the Louis Vuitton Cup when seven of the challengers’ chances to compete for the Cup were brought to an end. Areva Challenge was one of them, but has been quick to announce a campaign for the 33rd edition.
Elimination is obviously accompanied by disappointment, but Dawn Riley maintains her enthusiasm and determination whether she is speaking about the past, the present or the future…..
What has the team been doing since the end of the Round Robins?
We are still coming down after the racing. If you were to talk to someone from BMW ORACLE Racing today, I think they will look at you with blank stares. Even though you know it’s over you still try to analyse just what it all was and what you feel about it. After working so hard for so many days and years, you are on a treadmill. It seems crazy how busy we’ve been. Last week we had a relatively relaxed week of sailing and testing some things we hadn’t had a chance to look at thoroughly before. I obviously can’t discuss them but it got everybody involved and in the mode that we are continuing. We are also de-briefing and will start maintenance work to make sure the boat is ready for the next time it sails, whether San Francisco, Kiel or back here. We must then be ready to move without moving, while we wait and see who wins and where the next Cup is going to be.
What have you personally and the team got out of this Cup?
For me personally it has been the chance to live in a totally different environment in Europe and with a French team. It’s obviously been a growing experience and opportunity, but was also very isolating – a time difference of nine hours really shuts you out. It was a surprise to me just how few American people there are here. It’s been kind of scattered as a team - we have stopped and started a lot. I think the people who have stuck it through to the end have come out stronger, and some individuals will hopefully give us a good core team for the future. When you look around the successful teams have a lot of the same attributes, and it isn’t really about the nationality.
Have you enjoyed this campaign?
Yes, it has been a true learning experience and totally different from the others.
The first one, I was a rookie, everything was spectacular! The second one, there was a woman’s team - a real mission. The third one was my own personal mission the America True team, and was my heart, blood, sweat, tears, my credit card statement - everything was 1000% into it.
What is it like to be one of the only women on a sailing team and why are there so few women in the AC game?
To a point many just don’t believe they can do it, or are willing to give up and sacrifice other things in order to reach this level. It’s not their goal or choice. On the other hand it takes time to build a strong base of people to move into an AC level. Face it, this is the top and it’s unique. It’s not the same set of skills as sailing a dinghy or even on the match racing circuit - there might be a transfer in tactics but knowing how to live, work and go fast with a big team is very different. Women on the TP52, Farr 40 and some of the Volvo circuits are building the base for women in the AC in the future.
What are the disadvantages for a woman?
You have to prove yourself every single time you step on a boat, if you are sailing with people who don’t know you. If a guy is recommended people immediately assume he is pretty good. A woman has to prove just that little bit extra, and it slows the process down. It’s not that easy to just go and jump on a boat. A woman also has to lift the weights and be as strong; there is NO question about it. You have to be an athlete if you want to be in this game whether you are a man or a woman. You absolutely must train as hard, if not harder. You can’t lift less - you have to lift the same. You have to be in there with them, grunting it out. There is no question about that.
What advice would you give to women who want to sail in the Cup?
For sure I would say that all women have to lift weights; there is no excuse. You have to get as many different sailing experiences with as many different people as possible as they don’t believe you are a good sailor unless they see it. The same goes for jobs off the boat: winches, hydraulics, sail making, to have valuable skills in other areas. You need to be confident and take big steps, but not jump off the cliff expecting to be accepted just because you are a woman because you won’t. You are accepted only for your merits as a very good sailor.
Can you tell me about the Areva Challenge campaign for the 33rd Cup?
Areva has said they will continue but the devil is always in the details. We don’t know exactly what it implies, and won’t until we know where and when it will be. Two years would make it easier for budget, costs and logistics. We are all ready to go forward and yet really frustrated because we don’t have enough details. So we can sit here and dream and think and talk about it, but won’t know for certain until we know the date and location. The most important thing is to have key individuals with experience that love to work together to make boats go fast and solve problems; a core group who are open, enthusiastic, willing to listen, and share ideas. There is potential in the team but we are looking outside to bring in some more people because we didn’t have that this time.
How about you? Are you looking to do another campaign?
If it’s a good campaign I will. But I have no problem walking out of the AC to do something else. It will probably be back in Michigan working on some political campaigns, something I have been considering for about six years just because I’ve been involved through my foundation work, lobbying with developers and understanding how the political system works. I enjoy the competition and the fight for something I believe in. It’s not something I went to school for, just one of those opportunities that appears. In fact there are similarities with the Cup: fund-raising, communicating, fighting for a passion, and strongly believing in something.
Sailing is a tenuous sport and you always need a back-up plan. I’ve always got one, but this is the first time it’s been politics. Initially it will be as part of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. In the same way I started here, with the nuts and bolts, the greasing of the machine and learning the basics. I want to get a feel for it, how it works and runs. Michigan needs help and I think I have the right experience campaigning and public speaking and organising. I love the competition and if I’m good at it, I’m looking to eventually make pre-campaign speeches with an eye to one day running for Congress.
The end of the Cup is a logical deadline but every single day I ask myself what I am doing. I’m still planning two parallel paths – I suppose it’s simple, what I’ve been doing my whole life – get ready to travel light no matter what!
)
MORE INTERVIEWS 
