Opportunity knocks
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 6 Oct 22:00 BST
Rolex Sydney to Hobart Keryn McMaster part of the all female crew on OCEAN RESPECT RACING (Wild Oats X) © Andrea Francolini
Best grab it with both hands, then. Time with Keryn McMaster was on offer, so like, yeah, let's do this! You know, she's a bit of ledge, and as such, she fits in very well with the precursor piece we did on the Admiral's Cup, which was entitled The call of the mighty.
So, in the one call we could get into professional women's sailing, and as the Southern Hemisphere Summer arrives, have a good hard look at ocean safety. Kind of cool too, for 6-12 October is National Safe Boating Week in AUS and NZL, and she is a Kiwi and raced on an Aussie boat in the Admiral's Cup.
Need a cup of tea after all that, but this is story time. The GP42, Khumbu, had been purchased by none other than Sean Langman, and renamed Back 2 Black. McMaster stated, "Being effectively an inshore boat, with its low freeboard pretty distinct, means it is a wet boat. Sean and his team added a lot of strength with ring frames and stringers to modify it to suit, especially for the short chop you can experience in the massive tidal areas around the English Channel. It is actually quite awesome. Physical, yes, but a real hoot!
"Everything like the in-out, and the up-downs for the jib cars, they were all through-boat fittings, so the boats are wet, both on deck and down below. All that water meant new, heavy-duty bilge pumps were also needed. A new fin and bulb were added, and the new Doyle Sails wardrobe arrived to help us get amongst it, and we certainly did. Due to the overall timing, we did not have a lot of on water prep time, so every race we kept finding new ways to improve both boat and crew work, which really helped."
"We had some of the best rides downwind, especially when you've got Gordon Maguire steering and making 25 to 30 knots VMG running. It was fantastic. It's so good! The return of the Admiral's Cup was a real delight, and just about every crew had similar memories to take away, and inspire everyone to do it all again. Soon, not 22 years in the waiting."
Keryn's participation in the Fastnet Race provided vivid, detailed memories that define the race's infamous character. The initial atmosphere is one of maritime grandeur. The start off Cowes in the Solent, with the historic fleet and the ceremonial firing of the gun, is a spectacle that never fails to inspire.
"The actual start was amazing, and we had a cracker on Back 2 Black, we led well out of the Solent, which was nice," recounted McMaster. That immediate thrill then gave way to the reality of the task ahead: a 300nm work to 'The Rock'.
In the case of Langman's Back 2 Black it meant it was brutal, with every hour spent on the rail, bar the occasional toilet break. Eating, sleeping, consuming fluids, and surviving on deck like this reminds one of the Emperor Penguins in Antarctica, all huddled around, and shuffling from outside to in to regain some brief respite from the chill.
At least your weight's out as far as it can go, but that 'comfort' does not stop you trying to push your communicator and talk to Scotty every other minute. Now just why is it that the handy device always seems to fail on the work to the weather mark? Riddle me that, Batman...
The 2025 edition of the Fastnet may not have been 'typical', as such, but it is always tiring, and certainly drives home the definition of ocean racing - long periods of boredom, interspersed with moments of sheer terror!
McMaster added, "It was two days on the rail, cold, wet and miserable, and you know, you're sitting there at four in the morning, questioning your life choices, and just why are you doing this?"
This is quite interesting and highlights that even the most seasoned of sailors ask the very same questions us mere mortals do. The only certainty is the next wave over bow and deck.
Yet in the same breath, the turn arrives. That clay-slate islet below Ireland can often be obscured by fog and mist, and is as an eerie, imposing landmark. "It's quite creepy, actually. It is literally like something out of a movie.
"The run home was such a good time. Driving downwind in 25 knots of breeze with water flying everywhere, it's just so much fun," said McMaster, "And the finish in Cherbourg, France [every second race] offered a warm, welcoming, and celebratory atmosphere, providing a fitting end to one of the world's great sailing challenges that always commands a massive fleet."
The big question (that shouldn't even be on the agenda...)
Speaking to the one-female-on-board rule for the Admiral's Cup, McMaster stated, "I hate the fact that we have to have an inclusion rule. I do get that it is a necessary stepping stone, but it should always be 'the best person for the job, regardless of gender', so you'd think it is kind of superfluous. Certainly, us Antipodeans have a more inclusive approach to it all, and it is spreading. Slowly, but distinctly.
"The rule acts as a catalyst. It helps more women get on the boats and get the experience to a point where we don't have to have that conversation any more. A question of critical mass, that's all. The high profile, all-female international events are another big boost.
Keryn and a range of notable cohorts from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will be partaking in The New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship, which runs from September 12-19, 2026, at Harbour Court in Newport, R.I. They use the IC37s, so bigger boats than is the norm for 'all women' events means more crew get to race, which is terrific.
A note here, is that the RNZYS squad will have more people in the shore crew than on board, such is the strength and unity of the 'girl power' contingent from this great club.
Safety First, and always...
Not a throwaway line, but a mantra. "I guess for me, safety is not a rule to be observed, but a fundamental mindset rooted in personal accountability. We sailors must not merely delegate safety to the Skipper, or rely on a quick, pre-race briefing. We have to take absolute ownership of our own well-being and readiness."
That personal accountability really has five main aspects to address:
1. Your life jacket and its crotch strap, where the latter is just so crucial to avoid the jacket riding up over your head, which can be fatal. Every sailor must physically check, adjust, and understand their jacket before an emergency. They must know how the inflation mechanism works, how the strobe light is activated, and where the knife and PLB are located. The process of putting on and adjusting the life jacket must become a piece of muscle memory.
2. EPIRB and Muscle Memory Location: The Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is the vessel's last communication link. Its exact location must be ingrained in the minds of the crew. "I make a point of putting my eyes and my hand on the EPIRB before we leave, so that I can sort of replay that in my head if I need to get it at night." This internal video tape can be so critical when it's really required.
3. Proactive Questioning and Life Raft Protocol: No crew member, regardless of experience, should ever be afraid to ask basic, life-saving questions. Knowing the location and deployment procedure for the life raft is essential. Never be afraid to ask, 'Where's the life raft, and how does it work?' The question goes beyond simple location; it requires understanding the physical act of release: where is it tied off, how is it pulled out of its hatch, and what is the exact procedure for deployment in high winds and waves? In a crisis, the difference between a successful deployment and a tragic failure often lies in this detailed, shared knowledge.
4. Securing the Boat. Preventing Interior Hazards: Safety is also about preventing internal damage that can injure crew or compromise the boat's structure. Unsecured heavy objects, like items in the galley and particularly the anchor, must be tied down with absolute certainty. If an anchor isn't properly lashed, a knockdown can cause it to fly across the boat and take out a bulkhead or a person, which is a preventable catastrophe based on historical accidents in the sport.
5. Do your own pre-planning. Check forecasts, using tools like PredictWind, to anticipate conditions. It will help you prepare your gear, manage provisions (like having extra food readily available for a long shift on the rail), and mental fortitude to account for any anticipated weather scenario.
The Digital Age
No longer just a brave new world, time itself is now subject to the mastery of technology. Data is forever being enhanced in both accuracy and digestibility. If you can operate a screen, you can be your very own propellerhead. As a member of PredictWind's team of actual sailors helping other navigators, McMaster is well versed on this subject.
"We're committed to offering the best meteorological data globally, and this includes a continuous, rigorous process of integrating and validating new models. The platform has recently embraced artificial intelligence in its data sourcing, including the European AIFS, which is a new AI model from the ECMWF [European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts] system that was hitherto the world's most recognised benchmark."
"Our own proprietary, high-performance PredictWind AI model that we are about to release, is currently performing really well in our validation studies. As the AI model continues to learn we expect it to become even better over time. This investment in data science ensures that sailors are receiving the most accurate weather predictions available globally."
The other aspect to it all is integrating high-resolution regional models, which capture localised shifts and micro-climates that global models often miss. Examples include the NAM and HRRR models for continental USA, and the AROME and ICON-D2 for Europe. This comprehensive model integration is the bedrock of intelligent routing and, by extension, pre-emptive safety measures.
The measure of things
Of course, all tech and no benefit is utterly worthless. Before you even go, if you're not racing, why even be out there if you do not have to? Sticking to a nominated schedule can ruin your trip, and even your potential for future escapades if the family is not 'on board' per se.
"PredictWind's Departure Panning tool lets you see the difference over a four day window. If you can wait a couple of days, you can turn a miserable, slamming trip for the family into a dream ride. Rushing to leave in poor weather is always when the problems occur. Our new comfort metrics for roll, vertical acceleration (which is when seasickness occurs), and slamming provide you with the power to determine where you go on your route.
"For instance, experiencing more than four degrees of roll makes it a bit hard for moving around the boat. So, if you manage expectations, you can ensure the welfare of all POB, and importantly, be in a better state yourself to continue making good decisions. Being tired and unwell never helps with working things out."
Equally, real-time, and pre-emptive local alerts are a magnificent tool in the old forewarned is forearmed adage. Gusts are one thing, but Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) measures atmospheric instability, which is code for thunderstorm and lightning. Being on top of it means avoid all together or duck for cover.
"On that point, PredictWind now has a new Sail Charts feature. You input your wardrobe and Polars, we'll tell you when you're about to transition into wind and wave conditions that require a sail change. This prevents the classic, reactive, and often dangerous scenario of waiting too long, so there'll be no need to create havoc at two o'clock in the morning when it is already upon you. In the case of the main, remember it is always easier to shake a reef out than to put one in!"
It is the same with the crew. If you know it is coming you can prepare. Get the meal done early, so everyone has some gas in the tank. Put the snacks in the jacket pocket now, whilst you can move about easily, and check that what needs to be tied down is done so properly. Finally, let everyone get some rest, so as to be alert and functioning.
"Remember too, that all things will pass. The ability to look ahead and provide a positive outlook is, in itself, a powerful tool for maintaining psychological resilience offshore," stated McMaster.
What about an unseen Watchman?
PredictWind's GPS Tracker has just been unveiled and used in the Ocean Race Europe. By extension, it is a terrific aid for those making passage. McMaster's own recent tale during a trip from New Zealand to Fiji highlights this.
"A colleague was keeping the classic weather eye on us, and noticed a significant reduction in speed and massive course deviation in the real time data being displayed. He immediately checked in with us. We'd just been through a massive knockdown, and we were regrouping; the tracker had served as an effective alarm that alerted concerned people ashore. This level of constant visibility is an indispensable safety net for any offshore voyage."
Note to everyone; McMaster said, "You know, I'd be a fan of the product, even if I didn't work for PredictWind."
So, whether you're racing, cruising up the coast, or taking your powerboat away for vacation, all of the above helps to add some careful, considered, and frankly invaluable aide memoirs to that little voice inside your head. Please listen to it...
Thanks for tuning into Sail-World.com
John Curnow
Sail-World.com AUS Editor