© Dani Devine | Team Malizia
Interview with Holly Cova, Team Director of Team Malizia
"Women have their rightful place on board."
Holly Cova isn’t just Team Director of Team Malizia – she’s also a passionate nature lover, a mentor for women in sailing, a friend, and a mother. Talking with her, it quickly becomes clear that the British woman navigates the male-dominated sailing world with heart and a strong team spirit. She speaks openly about the challenges women face on board, her deep sense of responsibility toward the ocean, and why she’d rather push herself to the limit outdoors than in the gym.
Holly Cova
Team Director Team Malizia
Dear Holly, you've been sailing your whole life. How has your personal sailing journey shaped and prepared you for your current role as team director?
Yes, I sailed all my life, even in the South Pacific – but never racing. Yet my experience helps me to understand what people go through. I did ocean crossing and they definitely gave me a bit of an appreciation of what it’s like to be at sea. Also, I always had a passion for the ocean and this big connection to it. That of course complements really well with the Malizia mission, since we’re not just about racing but about ocean protection.
Can you describe what exactly makes you so passionate about the ocean?
There’s this huge expanse of water which covers a majority of our planet – and we still know so little about it. And you also have these two elements of the ocean: You can be on top of it, while sailing and swimming. But then I also wonder, what lies beneath. That really captivates my imagination. Apart from that it is simply beautiful – the ocean gives me this free feeling.
© Andreas Lindlahr | Team Malizia
In addition to the ocean, you also have some other passions, like hiking. So you're drawn to two very contrasting elements – water and earth. What does hiking give you that sailing might not, and vice versa?
I love being in nature and exploring – both is possible on water and on land. Well, unless you don't own a boat... so that would be a limiting factor for me (laughs). Hiking is a bit more accessible, and you're not so cut off normally. Whereas with sailing, if you really want to explore, then you tend to be further away for longer periods. So, I enjoy my flexibility while hiking. But whether hiking or sailing: I really like finding out what I’m physically capable of.
So you like to push your limits?
Definitely! I have done some pretty long hikes and long sailing in hard conditions. I find it super rewarding to test myself in different situations and to see how my body reacts and what I can push through mentally. I'm not someone who wants to sit in a gym – I want to be out there and see new things while I do an activity.
© Marie Lefloch | Team Malizia
Let’s talk about your job: What are your core responsibilities as team director?
My role is to oversee everything, from start to finish – to make sure we are ready for the race in terms of the technical side or that there’s no big issue in any area for example. But it ends up being many things in a day, my tasks are so varied. Though we have a really strong team that takes care of their areas such as the technical site, finance, communication and more. I would say I am holding the strings together, making sure everyone is aligned.
What does it mean to you to lead an offshore team?
I’m very proud. We have grown so much from being one of the smallest offshore teams, with no budget and an older boat, to now being one of the biggest teams, with a high prospect of winning or coming in podium places. I’m also proud of how fully international we are – twelve nationalities, a mix of men and women – I’m really happy about that. In our team we have that mentality: work hard, play hard, be friends and look out for each other and enjoy working together!
Have you ever been underestimated on your journey as team director, being a woman, and are there any stereotypes or expectations that you regularly face?
Definitely – in the beginning like crazy. Most people either thought I was just doing social media for Boris, or that I must be his wife. I guess if you’re a young blonde woman, those are the things people assume. It’s a bit different now, since I’ve been doing this job for a while and people know my role better.
"In our team we have that mentality: work hard, play hard, be friends and look out for each other and enjoy working together!"
Holly Cova
Do you think you lead differently — perhaps because you’re a woman?
I think so. Women just have different soft skills. We can be more diplomatic. For example, I don’t have so much of an ego — if something goes wrong or someone is difficult, I don’t hold on to it. I don’t take that badly and then have to butt heads – I can let it go. And maybe I’m more empathetic, especially when it comes to women in the team who already have children or are thinking about having them. In those moments, it really helps to have a woman in this position where you’ve done it and get it.
I won’t ask the classic work–life balance question – partly because you’ve probably answered it a thousand times, and partly because no one would ask Boris that. But when women do get asked, do you see it as frustrating or as a chance to raise visibility around female leadership?
I don’t mind the question at all – for me, it’s about visibility. My husband and I are very equal; we don’t follow gender roles. But when I became a mother, I quickly had this wakeup call: It’s impossible to be fully equal when you’re breastfeeding. Women are just the primary parent – and that’s an amazing thing, but also so much pressure. So yes, I understand why women get this question and men usually don’t. Breastfeeding literally gives your child life from your own body. It takes so much energy. I was lucky that I could work from home in the beginning, and that I had support from the team. And now that I travel more for work again, we have an au pair. Without that support, it would be really hard to juggle everything.
© Nick Hanke, Kiel-Marketing e.V.
Sailing is still male-dominated. What do you think needs to change – and how?
We need more women in leadership roles and more visibility for what female sailors can achieve. But it can’t just be women pushing for this – we need more male allies in sailing. People like Boris, who truly don’t care if you’re a man or a woman. He just cares if you’re good at your job. That mindset needs to become the norm.
If we do talk about things that need to change: Do you think the next big goal could be an all-female team or even a dedicated offshore cup format for female sailors – and would you be willing to lead such a team?
Both an all-female team and an all-female cup format definitely sound interesting. But I see it from two different perspectives. There’s no question that an all-female team can achieve amazing things – just look at Team SCA in the Volvo Ocean Race. But one of the things I love about sailing is men and women compete with and against each other. I would definitely support an all-female competition, but I think we don’t necessarily need to separate genders. It’s really cool when women and men race side by side. For example, Swiss skipper Justine Mettraux had an incredible Vendée Globe in 2024, finishing as the first woman and beating many men along the way. It’s not that women can’t compete against men – it just hasn’t been an option for so long.
"We need more male allies in sailing."
Holly Cova
© Dani Devine | Team Malizia
Do you think that social dynamics at sea between men and women are different from those on land?
That really depends on the team. When Rosalin Kuiper was still on our team, she often said it didn’t even factor in that she was a woman when she was on the boat with the guys. I feel the same way – we’re all out there to sail as fast as we can and ultimately to win. Of course, everyone on Team Malizia has different skills and experience levels, but in the end, we all share the same goal. That’s something in our team we try to play on and highlight.
In other teams it’s not the same?
No, not everywhere. You still hear about token women on board sometimes. That needs to be a thing of the past. Women have their rightful place on board and need to be given a chance – but also intelligently. Don’t put a woman in position on the boat where she has to lift the heaviest things, if she’s the smallest. Try to put people to where they can bring the biggest advantage.
"Of course, everyone on Team Malizia has different skills and experience levels, but in the end, we all share the same goal. That’s something in our team we try to play on and highlight."
Holly Cova
The mentoring programme has supported the careers of more than 200 women from 20 different countries with a mentoring programme lasting more than nine months to kick-start their careers in the marine industry.
You’ve mentioned Rosaline Kuiper: You two are friends. She used to be the co-skipper of your team and now she's the skipper of competing team Holcim-PRB. Do you still exchange thoughts and advice, or are you there for her when she has questions? And most importantly, do you still root for her during the race?
Yeah, definitely! Rosie is an amazing person and a fantastic sailor. We will always be friends, that goes without saying. By now, our babies are about the same age, so we talk a lot about life outside of sailing too. And if she ever has questions related to sailing or work, she knows she can always reach out to me or Boris. Boris is one of the most open sailors I know and very proud of where former team members end up. Of course, I also root for her during the races.
© Antoine Auriol | Team Malizia
Ex-Malizia co-skipper Rosaline Kuiper and Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann
Girls support girls – that’s what I love about women! Let’s talk about the Magenta Project in this context. The initiative supports women in sailing through a mentoring program that helps them develop their careers, build networks, and inspires them to succeed at the highest level. How important are these kinds of alliances among women?
Extremely important! That’s why I joined the board of the Magenta Project. It aims to connect a mentee with a mentor, so the less experienced sailor benefits from the network and guidance of a more experienced mentor. This support helps overcome obstacles, find sponsors, and advance careers – not only for sailors but also for women in management, onboard reporting, or technical roles. These networks and connections are invaluable for us women and our careers.
From your perspective, what are the biggest structural barriers that women in offshore sailing still face today?
So much stuff is not set up for women – just look at an IMOCA. Most of the pedestals are very high. I am 1,80 m, which is fine, but must women are shorter. Also, sailing clothing often isn’t designed for women. And there are many more hurdles: Women sometimes don’t get enough race points to qualify if they’re having a baby, or teams want only men. But there are women in the industry, like Rosie and our new team member Cole Brauer, who are paving the way and breaking down those barriers step by step.
Speaking of Cole Brauer: What physical demands does offshore sailing place on a person – and do gender or body type really make a difference? Because when I think of someone like Cole, who was the first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world – and at a height of just 1.55 meters – the stereotype can’t be that accurate, can it?
I think with Cole it was more about her determination than her size. A race like the Vendée Globe, it's so long and so tough. During the race, Cole broke her ribs, but she still carried on going – the amount of strength it takes to continue all of that with broken ribs is crazy. We often forget that women have an immense power when it comes to pain endurance.
Also, Cole showed great determination even before the race and prepared accordingly on land.
Exactly! Cole spent a long time modifying her boat, her systems and the way she did things in order to make it possible that she could compete on the same level as others. If you look at other sailors, you also see differences in body types: Thomas Ryan and Boris Herrmann are totally different sizes. Both really strong, of course, but Boris quite tall, while Thomas is rather petite. If you’re clever nowadays, the boats are not one design. You can design and modify it the way you want – and if you do that well, then you can compete successfully, no matter what size, physique or gender.
"You can design and modify your boat the way you want – and if you do that well, then you can compete successfully, no matter what size, physique or gender."
Holly Cova
© Dani Devine | Team Malizia
In my personal life, I keep noticing that there are some topics affecting women that are still considered major taboos. The best example: menstruation. In many sports, it is often ignored – even though it affects concentration, physical performance, and well-being, especially during top-level competitions. What insights do you have about how offshore female sailors manage their periods during long regattas?
It’s a very difficult topic because you live on a boat with no toilet. Many female sailors control their periods taking hormones to manage timing, which of course is a personal choice. Rosie was very open about the issue, since she felt comfortable with the team – they even built her a toilet seat for the bucket, which made things more comfortable. It’s important that this becomes a more open topic. As women we know that we’re not all impacted by periods in the same way; I know people who are in agony for days and other people barely notice it. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but teams should openly ask: “Have you thought about this? How do you want to manage it?” rather than them feeling like they have to manage it in silence.
© Antoine Auriol | Team Malizia
Rosaline Kuiper in the mast of the Malizia "Seaexplorer"
"I hope for 50:50 representation in all areas and that little girls can dream of becoming the next Rosie or Cole. That should be a normal, achievable dream, rather than an almost impossible dream."
Holly Cova
Is there something you wish for – as a woman, mother, leader, and sailor?
A world where women don’t have to prove themselves so much harder than men. Where women aren’t judged as “too much”. If a woman is friendly, she’s often labelled as flirty, whereas a man is just charming. I want a world where women can be strong without being aggressive. I hope for 50:50 representation in all areas and that little girls can dream of becoming the next Rosie or Cole. That should be a normal, achievable dream, rather than an almost impossible dream. With projects like Magenta and teams like Malizia, we’re moving closer to that reality.
Last question: We already talked about changes that need to be done in the next generation in sailing. But is there anything that must never be lost?
The ocean itself. That’s why it’s so important that we commit ourselves fully to protecting the seas. If we allow things like deep-sea mining or trawling, and look at how climate change is progressing and what’s happening to the water, it worries me the most. The ocean is this beautiful playing field of sailors – and we should never lose that.
© Kiel-Marketing GmbH – Interview: Finja Thiede
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