Magique et Terrible: The All-Women RS21 Crew Reshaping The Sport from the Inside Out
by RS Sailing 8 Mar 18:30 GMT
Magique et Terrible © Magique et Terrible sailing team
There's a moment in sailing when everything falls quiet. The sails power-up, the boat accelerates, and the crew moves instinctively. No words are needed - just trust, timing, and the synergy of the team.
For the all-women RS21 team Magique et Terrible, those moments are the magic. The relentless training, the pressure, and the fight to improve - that's the terrible. Together they form the identity of a crew who are leaving a lasting mark on the class.
The team is the only all-female crew in the international RS21 fleet. But they are not here to be symbolic. They are here to be competitive.
The crew sat down with RS Sailing, to celebrate International Women's Day 2026, and this year's theme of 'Give to Gain'. Their story is about persistence, partnership, and the quiet revolution that happens when sailors refuse to accept the limits placed on them. And the gains that they get when they give their all; which led them to a world title in the RS21 World Championship 2025.
A Crew with a Shared Vision
Magique et Terrible brings together a group of young Italian sailors whose paths to the water were different, but whose ambitions align.
At the helm is Malika Bellomi (21) from Limone sul Garda. Sailing since the age of eight, Bellomi built an impressive career through the youth classes. She was World and Italian Champion in 2023 in the 29er and European Champion in 2021, competing at ISAF World Championships in Brazil and the Netherlands. Her achievements now stretch across multiple classes, including Italian Champion in the Waszp (2025), RS21 Women's World Champion (2025) and J70 Mixed One Pro World Champion (2025).
Alongside her is tactician Sofia Giondi (28) from Forlì, who has spent more than two decades in sailing after first stepping into sailing at just six years old. Her career spans Optimist, 420 and 470 Olympic classes, before transitioning into keelboats where she became J70 European Champion in 2024, Italian Champion in 2023, and RS21 Women's World Champion in 2025.
On the bow is Elisa Ziletti (22) from Desenzano del Garda. Sailing since childhood across a range of classes, she has built her racing pedigree through both fleet racing and match racing - becoming Italian Match Race Champion in 2025.
Providing composure and control on the sheets is Chiara Degli Angioli (24) from Rimini, whose sporting background includes years in competitive judo before returning to sailing. Her experience spans O'pen Skiff, RS Feva, 29er and ILCA, leading to Italian Champion in 2022, Italian Match Race Champion in 2023, RS21 Women's World Champion in 2025, and J70 Mixed One Pro World Champion in 2025.
Completing the crew is the youngest member, Lucia Marchi (17) from Torri del Benaco. Lucia has already made a mark in the RS Feva class, finishing second at the Italian Team Race Championships in both 2022 and 2023, before stepping into the RS21 fleet and helping the team secure World Championship Women's category victory in 2025.
Together, they represent a new generation of RS21 sailors - skilled, determined, and unafraid to challenge the status quo.
Their team motto says it all: "Crederci sempre, arrendersi mai." Always believe, never give up.
A Team Built on Ambition and Friendship
Every crew has an origin story. For Magique et Terrible, it began with a shared energy to keep pushing forward in the sport they loved.
"The team was born from the meeting of ambition and friendship. We came from different paths in sailing, but shared the same desire: to get back on the water after aging out of the youth classes and to challenge ourselves at a high level in a technical and competitive class like the RS21. At the beginning it was just an idea, almost a challenge: to create an all-female crew that wouldn't be 'symbolic,' but truly competitive. We started with a match racing regatta and then fully committed to the RS21. Training session after training session, regatta after regatta, we built something that goes beyond sporting results. We became a shared project, with a clear vision and a common goal."
The Meaning Behind "Magique et Terrible"
The team's name captures the emotional reality of racing. "For us, 'Magique' is harmony. It's the silent understanding during manoeuvres, the moment when the boat accelerates and everything seems to flow naturally. It's that almost suspended feeling in which every movement is coordinated and precise. 'Terrible' is determination. It's our competitive edge, the ability to never give up, to fight even when conditions are tough or the standings aren't in our favour. We are both: light and powerful, elegant and fierce. And it's exactly this balance that represents us."
Representation on the Start Line
When they arrive at the line, surrounded by other teams fighting for the perfect start, they know the Magique et Terrible crew represent more than just their own ambitions.
"It means responsibility, but also pride. When we're on the starting line, we know we're not just representing ourselves, but an idea: that women can compete on equal terms in a technical and physical class like the RS21."
"We don't want to be 'the girls in the fleet.' We want to be a strong, prepared, and competitive crew. And if our presence inspires other girls to try, then what we do takes on an even greater meaning."
Why the RS21 Demands the Best
"The RS21 is a technical, sensitive, reactive boat. It doesn't forgive mistakes, but it rewards teamwork. It requires constant communication, precision in manoeuvres, and refined tactical awareness. In such a competitive one-design class, the difference lies in the details, preparation, and crew chemistry. It's an extraordinary training ground for anyone who truly wants to grow as a sailor and as a team."
Turning Doubt Into Fuel
Like many female athletes in traditionally male-dominated spaces, the crew have encountered moments of doubt and have been underestimated.
They have chosen to respond the same way sailors always have - through preparation and performance.
"Yes, we've been underestimated, and in different ways. Sometimes openly, other times through lower expectations or surprise at seeing us in such a technical class. We chose to turn those doubts into fuel. Every extra training session, every hour in the gym, every technical debrief after races has been a silent answer. We don't necessarily want to prove we are 'enough.' We want to prove we are competitive."
Sisterhood at Sea
The bond between the crew is one of their greatest strengths.
"Sisterhood on board means honesty. It means telling each other the hard things when necessary, because the goal is to grow together. It means supporting each other after a bad race and staying grounded after a win. It means knowing you can fully trust the person next to you when the wind picks up and the pressure rises. It's not just friendship. It's shared responsibility."
Looking Forward - and Leaving a Wake
The crew's ambitions stretch far beyond simply participating in the fleet.
"For next season, we want to grow in consistency and solidity, reduce mistakes, and strengthen our presence in the international fleet. We don't just want to participate - we want to consistently fight at the front of the fleet. As a legacy, we would love to leave this: that an all-female team in RS21 is no longer an exception. That it becomes normal to see more women crews competing at the highest level."
A Message to the Next Generation
For young sailors watching from the shore, Magique et Terrible have a clear message.
"If you're wondering whether there's a place for you in sailing, the answer is yes. Don't wait until you feel ready. Start. Train. Make mistakes. Try again. The sea makes no distinctions: it asks for skill, dedication, and courage."
Magique et Terrible are proving that truth every time they leave the dock. Magical in their teamwork. Terrible in their determination. And leaving a wake behind them that others will soon follow.
Written with thanks to the Magique et Terrible team and their interview with RS Sailing for International Women's Day.