Sailors celebrated the start of the first America's Cup for women this weekend with some tight races and spectacular slash-downs in challenging Mediterranean conditions off Barcelona. The America's Cup has been dominated by men throughout its 173-year-history and the new event has been set up to offer women a pathway by bridging the gap in experience.

The start of racing in the Puig Women's America's Cup felt like the start of a whole, new and exciting chapter in the story, not only of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup, but also for women's elite sport.

The British Athena Pathway team made history by taking victory in the opening race of the first Women's America's Cup. The team is one of 12 in the inaugural women's competition and ended the first day in second place overall after four races in Barcelona.

Of the 12 skippers who take to the water this weekend for the start of the first women's America's Cup, not one has had an opportunity to sail the AC75s used by their male counterparts.