First Mate Rachel Burgess shares with YM her experiences racing 28,000 miles around the globe to win the Ocean Globe Race with her all-female Maiden crew.
While sitting in a small café in Horta, Azores, I received the call. My immediate response was to say ‘hell, yes’ before considering the logistics. That’s how I became First Mate on the legendary yacht Maiden, part of our record-setting all-female crew racing as if it were 1973.
My first task was to complete an Atlantic crossing. Then, I joined the team in Hamble in July 2023 for the final preparations leading up to the race start. I also needed to obtain my GMDSS GOC (general operator’s certificate) radio license.
I soon realized that the HF radio would play a vital role during our time on board. It was often our sole source of weather updates and our means of social connection, sharing jokes or ‘quotes of the day’ with other boats during our twice-daily buddy chats, which became a highlight for the crew. After each session, I would track the other boats’ positions and calculate our distance changes to assess our gains or losses over the previous 12 hours.
‘Morale was high as we set sail across Christchurch Bay – next stop, Cape Town.’ Photo: Rachel Burgess
The weather was always a key topic. We relied on the occasionally unreliable weatherfax and long-range HF radio forecasts for information, especially as many stations have since ceased operations, leaving vast areas of the South Atlantic without broadcasts.
One of the joys of the race was navigating in the style of the 1970s—using a sextant and celestial bodies to traverse the ocean. The importance of maintaining an accurate course, speed, variation, and deviation quickly became clear.
Rachel hard at work at the navigation desk. Photo: Rachel Burgess
Every two to three hours, we logged our position and created a Dead Reckoning (DR) spot before using either Bonnie or Clyde (our two sextants) to verify how close we were to our estimates.
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Maiden crew tactics and navigation
Initially, Heather and I decided that our best tactic was to take the shortest route. We faced difficulties during Legs 1 and 4 due to our weatherfax failing to pick up any signals. We opted for a reasoning approach of ‘common is common for a reason’ in routing.
Tactics and navigation duties were divided between Heather and me. We structured our time into six-hour watches on and off. The crew member on watch was responsible for sail adjustments, monitoring the weather, and gauging our estimated location.
Excited to receive a clear chart from the weatherfax. Photo: Rachel Burgess
The crew was arranged into four watches of two, with two watches on duty at all times, rotating every two hours so that the new watch would step into the ‘pit’ to handle trimming and grinding, while the existing ‘pit’ crew took the helm and mainsheet.
Changing crew every two hours helps keep the active watches energized but complicates shared mealtime. Consequently, there was rarely a moment when everyone was together, and we relied on freeze-dried food for sustenance.
Every few days, Junella would appear akin to Santa, delivering bags of food and stocking each crew member’s space with supplies for several days ahead. This allowed each crew member to choose their meals on their schedule. Typically, the off-going watch would heat food for the incoming watch to have it ready for them as they arrived. We also maintained UTC boat time on Maiden, simplifying navigation calculations—especially crucial when sleep-deprived and facing a bumpy ride!
Maiden is a challenging yacht to sail; her low freeboard allows only one area where an average 5ft 6in crew member can stand upright. The 12 crew members lived in close quarters, sharing bunk beds and hot-bunking, with merely one toilet and a compact galley. Each of us had just 12kg of personal gear.
Rachel (right) with some of the Maiden crew under a sky full of mackerel. Photo: Rachel Burgess
The start of the race was breathtaking, with spectator boats stretching as far as we could see. It was a downwind launch in relatively light winds, and we hoisted the spinnaker just after crossing the start line, granting us an early advantage over many other boats. Spirits were high as the sun shone while we sailed out across Christchurch Bay, heading towards Cape Town—which was nearly 7,000 miles away.
The crew began Leg 1 without having previously sailed together as a cohesive unit. We managed numerous sail changes in the early days, needing to learn how to manage energy levels wisely, reducing unnecessary changes compared to an inshore race. Tactically, we decided to wait at least 20-30 minutes before another sail change, extending to an hour if we were enlarging our sail plan.
With some exhilarating downwind sailing, the crew quickly learned to navigate down the waves in a straight line at the fastest speed possible. We crossed the Doldrums beside Translated 9.
Molly, Junella, and Rachel lowering a wrapped spinnaker. Photo: Rachel Burgess
We approached Cape Town upwind in fierce 45-knot winds. When we contacted VTS to inquire about traffic conditions, we were advised to ‘wait outside for better weather’! We replied that we were racing, to which the kind lady said: ‘If you’re certain about it, there’s 50 knots in the marina here. Good luck!’ We crossed the finish line just 30 minutes shy of beating Spirit of Helsinki on corrected time. However, finishing second in the first leg still felt commendable.
Leg 2 presented a steep learning curve; we encountered larger waves, denser wind, colder temperatures, and often grey skies. Heavy, thrilling downwind conditions became routine, with waves spanning 4-6m and exhilarating surfing moments, capped off by the 30-knot spinnaker takedown! The challenging waves and overcast sky hampered sextant navigation, prompting us to sail extra miles to avoid missing crucial waypoints.
Cape Horners
A significant accomplishment for us (besides winning) was rounding Cape Horn. On Leg 3, we departed Auckland in shorts and T-shirts to traverse the world’s most remote ocean. Our course would delve deeper into the Southern Ocean than any of us had ventured before. The race management team had designated ice limit waypoints at 50°S and 53°S.
Chasing after Translated 9 during Leg 1. We engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with them through most of the Doldrums, enjoying some lively conversations over VHF. Photo: Rachel Burgess
The Southern Ocean treated us remarkably well. We experienced calms at 50°S, aptly dubbed the Cold Doldrums or Coldrums, and we wore swimsuits on deck just for the joy of claiming we sailed that far south wearing them.
As we neared the second waypoint, we found ourselves locked in a tight battle with Spirit of Helsinki when heavy fog rolled in, complicating our position confirmation. Suddenly, we heard them over the VHF warning another vessel about a potential collision, revealing that we were also in VHF range of both Triana and Neptune.
Swimsuits out for Cape Horn! Photo: Rachel Burgess
The racing was intense, and we steadily advanced, ‘power reaching’ toward Cape Horn at the front of our chasing pack. Just before rounding the Horn, our bowsprit sustained damage; it lifted straight off the deck while we plowed through big waves, so we ended up passing the Horn with just white sails wing-on-wing! Regrettably for the crew, we rounded the Horn under the cover of darkness, guided solely by the lighthouse’s flash.
What strategies can you use to keep a team energized on a boat for eight months? This proved challenging at times, yet fundamentally revolved around communication. We tried to hold weekly team meetings on deck, where our ‘chief of morale,’ Lana, would share stories or inspirational quotes, and the crew could raise any concerns. Our rallying cry became: ‘Who runs the world? Girls!’ accompanied by cake to brighten the session and keep everyone upbeat.
When spending up to six weeks at sea, especially while racing, it’s easy to overlook the importance of fun, which played an integral role in maintaining team morale. We celebrated fleet birthdays via radio, with the girls inventing songs in honor of the occasion.
‘Morale was high as we began our journey across Christchurch Bay – next stop, Cape Town.’ Photo: Rachel Burgess
We created ‘quotes of the day’ and shared jokes to entertain ourselves and the other boats through our Maiden Radio. We also featured ‘Heather’s Weather’ and a Cupid service on Valentine’s Day, reciting poems from smitten lovers over the radio for all to hear.
Leg 4 emerged as our most daunting leg, showcasing the team’s true resilience. Starting with a westerly course was risky but proved rewarding around Rio. We faced breakdowns of the inverters, generator, and watermaker, forcing us to ration food and water for a substantial part of the race.
Addressing a leak from the water tank seal during our passage. Photo: Rachel Burgess
We managed to collect considerable rainwater, troubleshoot some technical malfunctions, and most importantly, maintained swift sailing. The girls truly demonstrated their toughness, getting on with their tasks without complaint and even offering to drink less than allotted when it would support our racing efforts.
Long stretches of warm weather with no wind complicated navigation. To make matters worse, the weatherfax also ceased working, forcing us to depend on HF forecasts and the goodwill of fellow navigators for routing decisions.
After weeks at sea, a sunset offers a moment for contemplation and reflection. Photo: Rachel Burgess
The Azores high consistently followed us up the Atlantic, leading to another cat-and-mouse race with Outlaw and Spirit of Helsinki. It was disheartening to be just 15 miles from another boat only to watch them sail away to lead by 100 miles within a single day.
A fortunate low-pressure system gave us a final boost up the Channel. We received a warm welcome sailing up the Solent in the sunshine and managed to fly the spinnaker one last time as we crossed the finish line.
A joyous moment after finishing in Cowes. ‘Educate a Girl, Change the World’ encapsulates the Maiden philosophy. Photo: Rachel Burgess
Days after the race, we had the honor of meeting Queen Camilla at St James’s Palace. The phrase on the galley wall sums it all up: ‘With faith, honour, and courage, anything is achievable.’
Would I embark on this journey again? Absolutely!
Rachel Burgess: diving deeper
‘Why do we go to sea for extended periods and cross oceans? I believe it’s the freedom that the ocean provides. There’s ample opportunity for deep reflection, and there’s nothing more bonding than those late-night discussions in the darkness while gazing at the stars as the boat slices through the waves, leaving a shimmering wake amidst the quiet, only broken by the sound of the waves.
‘During off-watches, I love to hear the melodic rhythm of water rushing past the hull, signaling our impressive speeds, often accompanied by the shouts and cheers of those on watch as we surf down the waves.
Sailing through the ocean at night. Photo: Rachel Burgess
‘Maiden resembles a racehorse eager to charge forward at the crest of the next wave.’
Rachel is an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean with over 70,000 miles of ocean racing experience, including two circumnavigations, one of which was via Cape Horn. She has participated in the Sydney-Hobart race (2022), completed a Clipper circumnavigation (2019-2022), and participated in various offshore events in Australia, the Channel Islands, and the UK.
Rachel graduated as a veterinary surgeon in 2010 and spent 10 years as a horse vet before transitioning into professional sailing.
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