Kathleen Palmer, a former editor of YM, leveraged her journalistic abilities to secretly advocate against the patriarchal aspects of sailing after World War II.
In a historic move, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will achieve gender equality for the first time, featuring four events for women, four for men, and two mixed events – allowing equal opportunities for both genders to earn medals. This starkly contrasts with the 1948 London Olympics, where female sailors were explicitly barred.
The author of the ‘Racing World’ column in the August 1948 edition of Yachting Monthly expressed indignation under the headline ‘Hell hath no fury’: ‘It’s a shame the International Olympic Committee has made a decision that is sure to cause discontent in the host nation, where more and more women are increasingly participating in the sport.’
Particular concern was raised for Mrs. WL Pritchard, skipper of Rhythm, who had already qualified for the Olympic trials. The yacht Pegasus, also slated to compete, had to withdraw since it was owned by a woman and had a female crew. If either Rhythm or Pegasus had been chosen, women would have had to be replaced by male competitors.
Freya Black and Saskia Tidey racing for Team GB during the Olympic test event in Marseille in July 2023. The Paris Games will be the first with equal men’s and women’s events. Photo: Getty
A pioneer for equality
The term ‘Lords of Creation’ is not typical Yachting Monthly language, and I firmly believe it was written by Kathleen Palmer, the magazine’s associate editor. Having edited during the war, she had to step back when Maurice Griffiths (editor) and Norman Clackson (general manager) resumed their roles. However, she volunteered to create racing content, ensuring part of the magazine stayed under her influence.
In the immediate post-war era, ocean racing, offshore racing, and racing ‘around the cans’ gained immense popularity, featuring 10-12 pages dedicated to racing along with club news reports. John Scott Hughes, yachting correspondent for The Times, originally wrote the ‘Racing World’ column.
When his initials disappeared from the column, it appears Kathleen took over the coverage. By August 1948, she was in Torquay, fully accredited, reporting on the Olympic sailing events. Her nephew, Ian Palmer, kindly shared her scrapbook from that time, which contained photos published in Yachting Monthly.
Kathleen attended a special event at Torre Abbey where IOC President J Sigfrid Edström claimed it was ‘unknown’ if Olympic rules allowed women to sail in men’s events, asserting that no applications had been made to include women. This statement was challenged in YM through a published letter.
Kathleen Palmer in her later years
Peter Scott, chair of the British YRA (Yacht Racing Association) Olympic Committee, quickly responded to this letter, detailing the events that led to Edström stating he ‘could not allow’ women on crews at the 1948 games.
Scott had previously contested this stance, supported by the IYRU (International Yacht Racing Union), which highlighted that women had participated in sailing events since 1900 – ‘permission’ had never been a concern.
Virginie Hériot had even won a gold medal in 1928. Scott himself earned a bronze medal in the 1936 Kiel Olympics, which included several female competitors. Edström’s retort was, ‘My decision stands – women participated in 1936 without permission.’
Among the several passes Kathleen carried throughout the Games was one that identified her as a ‘competitor’. I hope she held it tightly when near the IOC President.
Kathleen wasn’t raised in a sailing family. Growing up in New Barnet, she joined Yacht Sales and Charters in 1927 as a shorthand secretary. When editor Maurice Griffiths moved to YM, so did she. It was simply a job; she wasn’t particularly fond of boats.
The map of Tor Bay and the Olympic courses, published in YM in August 1948.
In 1939, when Griffiths and Clackson, both RNVSR members, were called to serve in the war, Kathleen relocated everything to her home in New Barnet, where she lived with her mother, managing almost entirely on her own. She provided readers no indication of her identity or gender.
During her six-year tenure, the only pieces she signed (excluding book reviews) were a series on the WRNS, featuring images from Vogue photographer Lee Miller. They were later published as a book with an introduction by Dame Vera Laughton Mathews, WRNS Director. Ian Palmer’s compilation includes a letter from Dame Vera’s office thanking Kathleen for her ‘outstanding editorial cooperation’.
Unrecognized achievements
A review of YM from 1939-1945 illustrates Kathleen navigating a careful path between reporting the wartime realities at sea and conveying the experiences of yachtsmen (and women) deployed in the conflict, while also considering the sentiments of their families and the struggles of those earning their livelihoods in maritime industries.
She never wavered from her primary goal: producing a magazine that offered an escape from wartime life and reminded readers of the liberation and beauty of sailing – the way of life they were fighting to preserve. Her accomplishments went unacknowledged; an officially recognized female editor of a sailing magazine would not emerge until the century’s end.
The International Star Class rounding a mark. Photo: credit: Getty Images
Kathleen also purchased her own boat, Willow Wren, the first of YM’s 16ft sharpies designed by Jack Jones, which were ideal for river cruising, sea sailing, and camping. (This might suggest they weren’t particularly fast…).
She was photographed sailing Willow Wren in the calm waters near Broxbourne, which she soon found limiting. She moved her boat to the River Crouch and started participating in handicap races. Then she pivoted to class racing at Medway YC in Upnor, acquiring a Snipe named Comet (no 7401) and competed with another female member as her crew.
At this point, she wasn’t just racing; she was winning. Her nephew, Ian, then 18, frequently crewed for her. ‘She was very focused, while I often found myself chatting with young girl crew members on another lady Snipe. On light wind days, I was often scolded for chatting as we cruised gently past. However, I couldn’t really complain since we became “the boat to beat” thanks to Kathleen’s determination and skill,’ he stated.
Dragon class boats shortly after the start in Torbay, 1948
Reflecting on his aunt’s life, Ian believes her meticulous attention to detail set her apart – an excellent trait for both an editor and a sailor. Kathleen remained with the magazine until Maurice Griffiths retired in 1967, when she too stepped down.
Poring over volumes of YM during the post-war years reveals no articles or letters penned by women – the only exceptions being Kathleen’s anonymous contributions in 1948. At the year-end, the magazine listed 148 must-have books, featuring only one authored by a woman.
In 1951, Kathleen published her first book The Young Sailor, followed by Sailing Small Cruisers. Both books achieved modest success and were reprinted multiple times. Why is her name less known? She wrote under the male pseudonym ‘Guy Pennant’, believing otherwise they would be overlooked.
Kathleen’s Olympic competitor’s ticket
Five facts about the 1948 London Olympics
A global gathering – Twenty-six nations participated in the yachting events held at Torquay from July 31 to August 14, 1948.
Aftermath of war – The effects of WWII were evident when comparing the attendance list with the 1936 Kiel event. Germany and Japan were absent, Estonia was now under the Iron Curtain, and Poland did not attend. Eire and Cuba participated for the first time.
GB in full force – Great Britain was present in all five classes. The 6m Johan was helmed by experienced Scottish yachtsman James Howden Hume, accompanied by a generally youthful crew. The Dragon entry Ceres II, sailed by Ulster’s Eric Strain, won the Dragon world championship the prior year, making it the first success for a Northern Irish boat, and it was perceived as unlucky to finish 4th overall. There was disappointment too with Gem II’s performance in the Star class. Stewart Morris and David Bond clinched GB’s only medal, winning gold in the Swallow class.
Danish achievement – Most people remember this Games as marking the start of Danish sailor Paul Elvstrøm’s success at the age of 20.
Provided boats – This unique monotype dinghy competition featured all 27 Fireflies supplied by the host nation, with competitors drawing lots. Elvstrøm had never sailed a Firefly before arriving in England but triumphed under challenging conditions. This marked the first of his four consecutive gold medals over the next eight Olympic Games, earning him recognition as Danish yachtsman of the century.
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