For all the advanced technology at her disposal, veteran sailor Adrienne Cahalan still can't compete without her "gut feeling" when she is navigating her way from Sydney to Hobart every year.
It's uncomplicated, not technology reliant and, crucially, Cahalan controls it.
![Golden moment: Adrienne Cahalan was part of the Wild Oats crew that took line and handicap honours in 2012.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170704204551im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/d/7/0/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtcra5.png/1481936096592.jpg)
It's how it's been since she started in 1984 when she crewed on Mystic Seven when the senior personnel navigated by "taking sun sights" to find their way to Hobart.
"It was all paper charts and dividers; there was no GPS," said Cahalan, who will become the first woman to compete in 25 Sydney to Hobarts when she boards the 52-foot Ragamuffin on Boxing Day.
![Gut instinct: Adrienne Cahalan will compete in her 25th Sydney to Hobart race.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170704204551im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/d/6/z/t/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gtcra5.png/1481936096592.jpg)
"GPS didn't come into yacht racing until the early '90s. Now we have satellite communications, access to the web, electronic charting, all these sets of performance analyses. It's like being inside a Formula One garage.
"There is nothing you don't know about the boat. But there's one big thing about sailing a boat: you should keep your eyes out of the boat.
"Look at the sky, talk to the crew, be on deck, because it's just like anything, computers are only as good as the data you put into it. It's about intuition and experience and your gut feeling is still an important part of your decision making."
Cahalan's reliable instincts have ensured a career few can match on the open seas.
The 52-year-old is one of Australia's most successful sailors, particularly dominant in the 628-nautical mile race to Tasmania.
Since her debut in 1984 – Cahalan didn't compete again until 1990 due to 18-foot skiff commitments – she has pretty much sailed each year, winning line honours six times, her first on Nicorette in 2000. Twice she has navigated winning trebles on Wild Oats XI when the super-maxi claimed line honours, the handicap result and race records in 2005 and 2012.
Throughout the years the mother of two has competed in various roles: skipper, helmsman and, of course, navigator, where she feels at ease.
"There's four races that I haven't finished and they still bother me," Cahalan, a maritime lawyer, said.
"One of the important things about this race is crossing the finish line. Winning is important, but completing the race is really important; it is such a challenge.
"I really feel that I have experienced everything the race has to offer. Every race is different and every team is different. Wild Oats, we had 24 crew, my first race there was only six of us ... lots of good experiences.
"The real attraction is that I love racing in a team with all the different people and different personalities and I like fitting together the pieces of the puzzle to produce the winning formula."
Invariably she gets it right, paving the way for the next generation of female sailors.
"We've got four girls on our boat," Cahalan said. "We've got two Olympic gold medallists. Women play an enormous part in crews on the Sydney to Hobart.
"On yacht racing crews, diversity, whether it's nationalities, gender, whatever, it's great, it brings a fresh perspective on the way you look at things, different experiences."