Their hands trace the grooves in the wood of the fifty-year-old catamaran, grasp the ropes and embrace each other. Three women who have set out together to cross the Atlantic are gripped by a different perception of time and life’s possibilities whilst at sea. Women & the Wind is no conventional travelogue film – it is an immersive experience of a shared journey. Just as James Wharram, who also designed this catamaran, set the standard for sailors of a masculine ilk to conquer new routes, these women at sea are not interested in how far they travel, which explains why little is said in the film about nautical knots or destinations. Instead, the focus is on savouring the present moment – an experiment in an experience that can only succeed when shared. Alongside the unknowns and the power of the sea, brought to life by the spellbinding cinematography, the film is also about rediscovering oneself in extreme circumstances and finding confidence where inexperience previously caused anxiety. We are invited to observe as we sail with the women. When they open their first bottle of wine after several weeks, it shows how joy is found in the simple things in life. Alizé Jireh also turns her gaze to her fellow sailors, whose bodies merge with the traces of the old catamaran’s past, even becoming one with them. Shared nudity becomes a symbol of empowerment that consciously resists objectification and appeals to the bravery in all of us.

Alizé Jireh is a photographer and filmmaker. Women & the Wind is her debut film.
Lærke Heilmann is an artist, surfer and environmental activist.
Kiana Weltzien is a solo sailor.
Through Women & the Wind and the experiences connected to their documentary, the three women have built a large Instagram community. The film is now being screened at festivals for the first time.