How Freedom Boat Club is changing the course for women in boating

New figures have revealed the disappointing truth about women in the boating industry. But this club is helping women sail ahead. Find out more.

Shocking figures show fewer than one in a hundred seafarers are female. Forty nine out of every fifty boats are owned by men.

But more women are finally getting the chance to cast off thanks to a popular club’s subscription model.

Freedom Boat Club allows members to take out any boat, at any time, at any club around the globe. And it’s proving a popular choice with women boaties.

“You’ve got no maintenance, no registration, no docking fee, no cleaning, no refuelling, it’s just so easy,” Freedom Boat Club member Janet Wardle said.

These Gold Coast women are changing the narrative for women in the boating industry. Picture, John Gass

Fellow Boat Club member Anna Cardno said joining Freedom Boat Club has “opened up a whole other world”.

“Both my husband and I gained our licences through the Club – the support is phenomenal, they really gave me the confidence I needed as a woman to captain a boat,” she said.

“When I’m out with my husband, because he’s also present, you feel like you’ve got quality time. It’s this sense of having the fresh air through your hair.”

Freedom Boat Club Gold Coast franchisee Patrick Edwards said their comprehensive training and share model aimed to remove the barrier between women and boating so graphically laid bare in the Australian Gender Equality Council’s statistics.

“Freedom Boat Club is able to instil confidence in female boaters with unlimited on-water training and support,” he said.

About 49 out of 50 boats are owned by men, new data shows. Picture: Supplied

“Members can access unlimited instruction from certified captains to gain their boat licence and to continue to build on their skills.”

Mr Edwards said it was rewarding to see a shift from the typical male boatie to a more diversified marine playing field.

“Instead of a blokes’ day out, it’s women on the water,” he said. “It’s definitely time and I’m thrilled that the Club has been able to make it happen.”

Freedom has more than 90,000 members and 5,500 boats at 400 locations worldwide, including nine locations in Australia.

More than 35 per cent of the international club’s members are women and 33 per cent are new to boating before joining the club.