A DOCTOR'S WIFE MRS. BARBARA CALDER WILL CAPTAIN AN ALL-WOMEN CREW IN THE 400-MILE (640 KMS) TALL SHIPS RACE ACROSS THE NORTH SEA NEXT MONTH (AUGUST).

SHE WILL SKIPPER THE YACHT CRACKERJACK WITH AN EIGHT GIRL CREW - MOSTLY IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES AND THEIR TEENS.

ABOARD SHIP MRS. CALDER WEARS A CLOAK - A FAMILIAR PART OF A NAVAL OFFICER'S UNIFORM. "IF NELSON SAW ME IN IT HE WOULD TURN IN HIS GRAVE, " SAID MRS. CALDER. "I DON'T KNOW WHY WOMEN HAVEN'T ENTERED BEFORE, THERE'S NOTHING TO PREVENT THEM. I DON'T THINK WE SHALL WIN BUT IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF WE DID. BUT WE INTEND TO FINISH THE COURSE."
THE RACE HAS ATTRACTED 32 ENTRANTS FROM SIX NATIONS. IT WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS. THE BIGGER SHIPS WILL GO FROM GOTHENBURG (SWEDEN) TO KRISTIANSAND (NORWAY). THE SMALLER SHIPS WILL GO DIRECT FROM HARWICH (ON ENGLAND'S EAST COAST) TO KRISTIANSAND.

MRS. CALDER AND HER CREW COME FROM AROUND ABERDEEN, A SCOTTISH PORT FAMED FOR ITS SAILORS AND SEAMANSHIP.