Yesterday morning I joined the Global Women’s Walk 2026 on the Sea Point Promenade, alongside women from across South Africa’s leisure marine and maritime industry.
After two days of serious Cape Town winter storms, it felt fairly miraculous – and a great relief – to have a beautiful morning for it. Cold, yes. Early, definitely. Clear, calm and followed by coffee, thankfully.
As someone who considers coffee a food group, this was not a minor detail.
A morning worth showing up for
There is something very Cape Town about checking the weather every few minutes, wondering whether an outdoor event is going to happen, and then waking up to find that the city has quietly pulled itself together and decided to behave.
The Atlantic was still looking a little unsettled after the stormy weather, but the morning itself was beautiful. Women arrived in takkies, warm jackets and good spirits, ready to walk, talk, reconnect and support a really worthwhile initiative.
It was such a pleasure to walk alongside so many women I have worked with, connected with and collaborated with over the years. Clients, colleagues and familiar faces from across the industry – women who understand this world because they are part of building it, supporting it and keeping it moving.
That is one of the things I enjoy most about this sector. It is built on relationships, long memories, shared projects, tight deadlines, weather windows, sea trials, launches, workshops, design offices, suppliers, boatyards and the many people behind the scenes who make things happen.
A sector close to my heart
The marine and maritime sector is close to my heart.
I grew up in Cape Town and have sailed for as long as I can remember. Sailing has always been part of my life, and the ocean really is my place to reset. My soul place, for want of a phrase that does not sound quite so dramatic.
So working in an industry connected to boats, design, craftsmanship, engineering, manufacturing and the sea has always felt like a very natural fit.
What I enjoy about the sector is how varied it is. It includes yacht design, naval architecture, engineering, boatbuilding, manufacturing, suppliers, rigging, upholstery, composites, services, marketing, exports, associations and many specialist skills that support the wider leisure marine economy.
It is technical, practical, creative and very human all at once.
The really cool part
What was really special about the Global Women’s Walk was the diversity of women who took part.
There were women from every part of the industry. Business owners, laminators, general workers, cleaners, marketers, accountants, quality teams, customer service teams, upholsterers, seamstresses, designers, suppliers, administrators and many others.
That, for me, was the really cool part.
Not a polished networking event. Not a room full of people with the same job title. Not only the visible faces of the industry. Just women from across the sector showing up, walking together, talking, laughing, reconnecting and recognising that every role matters.
Because every role does matter.
The South African leisure boatbuilding industry is something quite special. It is a sector with an incredible depth of skill, and one where more and more women are working across all areas of the industry. Not only in the expected roles, but in production, technical, operational, design, quality, management, communications and leadership roles too.
That is worth recognising.
An industry where I have always felt respected
As an aside, I have worked in many industries over the years, and most of them have been fairly male-heavy.
But I can honestly say that South Africa’s leisure boatbuilding and marine sector is one where I have always felt respected. I have never experienced one iota of misogyny in this industry.
That is not something to take for granted.
Perhaps it is because this sector is so practical. Boats either get designed properly or they do not. Parts either fit or they do not. A launch either happens or it does not. There is not much room for nonsense when everyone is working towards the same very real, very tangible result.
Whatever the reason, I have always found this industry to be filled with people who value competence, hard work, knowledge, skill and contribution.
And seeing so many women from across the sector walking together yesterday was a lovely reminder of that.
Why initiatives like this matter
The Global Women’s Walk is a simple idea, but a good one.
Get women from the marine industry together. Walk. Connect. Support a cause. Recognise each other. Take a little time out of the usual rush.
It does not need to be overcomplicated.
Sometimes, showing up is enough. Especially when it is early, cold, and Cape Town has spent the previous two days reminding everyone why it was once called the Cape of Storms.
The morning was also in support of Room to Read, which made the initiative feel even more meaningful. Supporting women in industry while also supporting education and opportunity for girls is a very good combination.
A reminder that we all play a part
The walk was a reminder that industries are not only built by companies, products, facilities, exports or awards.
They are built by people.
By the laminator on the factory floor. By the designer behind the drawings. By the seamstress doing beautiful upholstery work. By the accountant keeping things in order. By the cleaner who keeps the workspace functioning. By the customer service person managing relationships. By the business owner carrying risk. By the marketer trying to explain technical things in normal human language. By the supplier who gets the right part delivered on time.
By all of us, in different ways.
That was what made the morning feel so worthwhile. It was a reminder that the industry works because many different people play their part.
A beautiful morning on the promenade
In the end, it was a beautiful morning, a meaningful walk and a very cool initiative.
There were familiar faces, new conversations, women from across the sector, a calm sea after the storm and, most importantly, coffee at the end.
A lovely reminder of why I enjoy working in this industry so much.
And a reminder that sometimes the simplest things – a walk, a conversation, a shared cause and a good cup of coffee – are exactly what is needed.
