Malta is set to welcome the all female sailing crew during their two year world tour aboard the 58-foot yacht Maiden. The sailing yacht is on a mission to raise awareness and funds for girl education projects and the empowerment of women across the globe.

In 1990 Maiden crossed the finish line of the Whitbread Round the World Race and Tracy Edwards MBE and her crew raced into the history books as the first all-female crew to sail round the world. Proving the critics wrong they won two legs and came second overall, the best result for a British boat since 1977 and unbeaten to this day. Maiden was made possible by the belief and support of one man, HM King Hussein I of Jordan and it was he who funded the project. He told Tracy “With faith, honour and courage, anything is possible.”

Tracy was forced to sell her beloved Maiden at the end of the race and she disappeared until, in 2014, the yacht was found rotting in the Seychelles, unloved and neglected. Tracy vowed to rescue her and set about raising funds to buy her back. She succeeded and in April 2017 Maiden was shipped into Southampton and so began the 17 month long refit to restore her to her former glory and The Maiden Factor project was born.

Maiden inspired a generation and now she has a new mission; to raise awareness and funding for girls’ educational organisations through The Maiden Factor Foundation. 130 million girls around the world are currently denied an education and studies show that given 12 years of education, girls can change their futures, their communities and the world. HM King Hussein’s daughter HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein is, through her generous support, and in honour of her father, making The Maiden Factor project a reality.

In 2017, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein had a bold idea to set up a global initiative in memory of HM King Hussein I. Anything is Possible honours the legacy of HM King Hussein I, and will support, promote and inspire the best in people. Following in the footsteps of her father HRH Princess Haya has set about redefining and celebrating the ethos of Maiden, working with Tracy Edwards, some of the original crew and the Maiden Factor team.