Photo: Sean Trew
Photo: Sean Trew
Is there a mentor, role model or some other key figure in your life who has
significantly impacted your sailing?
Jonathan McKee : My biggest mentors were the adults who I raced against when I was a kid.
These men and women treated me as an equal (at least on the water) and thus I had to act like an adult
from a pretty young age. This trust and confidence allowed me to proceed with my sailing without feeling limits, and this same feeling has stayed with me to this day. Although I am certainly aware of my limitations, I know there is
so much I can do in this sport if I set my mind to it, and
this feeling started when I was 12 years old.
Is there another side to you that you'd like to share with the Seahorse readership?
JM: I just love being on the water. Unlike many of my peers, I like to go sailing when I am between professional commitments, especially cruising.
Sailing has never felt like work to me, it is always something I do with joy in my heart. Racing is great, but every day on the water feels like a gift.
What is it you find most fun or rewarding about this sport?
JM: What I love most about sailing is the tremendous variety. There are so many fun and exciting ways to express yourself in a sailboat.
The intensity and technical challenges of America's Cup racing, the focus and clear head required to compete in a long solo ocean race, the quick thinking
and physicality of a short, windy skiff race, the peace of a quiet, secluded anchorage. I love it all, and best of all, there are always new challenges
to take on and new skills to learn.
You and your brother Charlie have an unmatched "sibling team" track record and have sailed together most of your life—from your dad's Soling as kids, to world championships, to Olympic medals in the 49er. What makes you such great teammates?
JM :Sailing with Charlie is always a great experience. We have slightly different sailing styles, so we help cover each other's weaknesses. Charlie really knows how to win a long, tough regatta, and always stays focused and positive. Our partnership is one of the defining features of my life. Together we have done things that neither of us could have accomplished on our own.
Do you have any feedback or thoughts on Harken and McLube™products?
JM: In my experience, Harken products are consistently the best available; the strongest, lightest and most free running hardware out there.
They are always looking for new solutions, and anxious to use appropriate new technology as it becomes available. Simply put, any boat is easier to sail,
faster, and more reliable with Harken hardware. McLube™is simply a breakthrough product for sailors. It allows so many parts to work more smoothly,
from hatches to sails to hulls to Harken blocks. When things run smoothly, you use less effort, and can remain focused on winning the race.
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