About

Meet Ellie

At just 23 years old, Ellie Driver has transitioned from racing dinghies as part of the GBR team to compete in the French Elite Offshore Championship, racing a Figaro 3.

A graduate of the University of Southampton with a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Maritime Engineering, Ellie is not only a formidable sailor but also a dedicated STEM professional.

Ellie’s career as a Naval Architect at SR Structures, reflects her passion for pushing the boundaries of maritime innovation while inspiring the next generation of women in STEM.

Sailing Achievements

  • Yachts & Yachting ‘Sailor of the Year‘ – 2022
  • Second Place – Défi Paprec 2024
  • Women’s Offshore Double-Handed European Champion – 2023
  • Vice World Offshore Double-Handed Mixed Champion – 2023
  • Second Place Female Skipper & Second Place Youth Skipper – ROLEX Fastnet Race 2023
  • Youngest skipper ever to compete in the SEVENSTAR Round Britain and Ireland Race – 2022

About the Boat

The Figaro 3 – a 36ft Production Foiling One-Design Monohull – was adopted in 2019 as the One-Design Yacht for the historic Solitaire Race, which since 1970 has become the benchmark for aspiring professional sailors.

Race Name – Women’s Engineering Society
Type: Beneteau Figaro 3
Length: 11m
Beam: 3.48m
Mast Height: 15.2m = 3.5 double decker buses!

About WES

The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) is a charitable company who aim to support women in engineering to fulfil their potential and support the engineering industry to be inclusive. Their vision is of an engineering industry that employs the diversity of the society it serves, to solve the biggest societal issues of our time.

WES support women in engineering at every stage of their career through webinars and events, collaboration with professional bodies, networking, and mentoring. Businesses and institutions are supported to attract and retain women by providing access to a network of talent for recruitment and raising business profiles through equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) collaboration.

WES was founded in 1919 and over 100 years later continues to champion women in engineering and are committed to shaping the future of engineering and promoting diversity, inclusion, and innovation.

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