An all-women's crew will contest the Volvo Ocean Race in 2014-15.
The 10-strong international team is backed by Sweeden's SCA, a multinational maker of hygiene products, and will be chosen over the next year.
They will be the first team of women to take on the 39,000-nautical mile race since 2001-02.
The first all-female team to enter the race was Maiden, skippered by Tracy Edwards in 1989-90. The last was Amer Sports Too.
The team are the first to enter the 12th edition of the race which is run every three years and began life as the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973. The most recent edition was completed in July with victory for French team Groupama.
The 2014-15 race will be contested in new one-design, 65-foot boats which organisers say require less physical strength to saile and will bring down costs.
