Submitted by Sue DuMond

To celebrate Women’s History month, the Lopez Grange is showing the documentary film “Maiden,” the story of how Tracy Edwards, a 24-year-old cook on charter boats, became the skipper of the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World in 1989.

Edward’s inspirational dream was opposed on all sides: her male competitors thought an all-women crew would never make it, the chauvinistic yachting press took bets on her failure, and potential sponsors rejected her, fearing the women would die at sea and generate bad publicity. But Edwards refused to give up: she remortgaged her home and bought a secondhand boat, putting everything on the line to ensure the team made it to the starting line.

Although blessed with tremendous belief in herself, Edwards was also beset by crippling doubts. She was only able to make it through with the support of her remarkable crew, including San Juan Islander Amanda “Mandy Swan” Neal. With their help she went on to shock the sports world and prove that women are very much the equal of men.

Movies are shown on the Grange’s HUGE new movie screen and new sound system! Popcorn served. Admission is free with donations graciously accepted and added to the Grange’s building maintenance fund. The film is courtesy of Friday Harbor Film Festival. Event is at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at Lopez Island Grange, 452 Richardson Road.