Keith Musto Reunites with Sixteen Flyer Crew Members for Special Celebration
by Musto 9 Jun 11:00 UTC
5-6 June 2026
Keith Musto and Flyer crew on Flyer 2 © Hans Wijker
To celebrate its 175th anniversary, the Royal Rowing and Sailing Club 'De Maas' brought together sixteen crew members of the legendary Flyer 1 and Flyer 2 yachts of the late Conny van Rietschoten. On Friday, 5 June, and Saturday, 6 June 2026, the Rotterdam clubhouse on the River Maas was the setting for both the anniversary celebrations and the Flyer reunion. It was a happy gathering filled with recognition, memories, and remarkable stories.
Among the honorary guests was Keith Musto, founder of the high-performance sailing clothing brand that bears his name. For him, it was a reunion with the men who, 45 years ago, helped him develop what is now known as the HPX range and the British heritage brand's innovative three-layer clothing system.
Following his victory in the 1977-78 Whitbread Round the World Race, Conny van Rietschoten teamed up with Musto. His right-hand man, Aedgard Koekebakker, still vividly remembers how it began: "On Flyer 1 we sailed in Henri Lloyd gear. Afterwards, Conny visited them at a trade show and ordered a thick, warm jacket. He asked whether they could make a deal if the entire crew were outfitted. Their answer was: 'No charity in this business.' Barry Pickthall, a sailing journalist with The Times, then suggested we go to Musto, because they were developing something new."
At ninety years old, Keith Musto still recalls those events clearly: "Conny decided to visit us and flew from Rotterdam to Southend in his private jet in the autumn of 1979. We took him into the wilds of Essex, offered him a cup of tea, and asked him for an outlined specification of his ideas on keeping warm and dry. His response was simple: 'I want to be able to sit on a cold aluminum deck for a month and still stay warm and dry.' A few weeks later, we were asked to send a three-layer prototype outfit to Daniel Wlochovski for testing throughout the winter."
GORE-TEX
Meanwhile, the development process continued. Keith Musto explains: "Our under-layer, its density and wicking, was fit for purpose, as was the middle layer of Thinsulate filling and fine woven outer polyester. These materials were low absorbent, breathable, and new to the market. We still, however, at that time, were using neoprene coated Bri-nylon material for the outer layer. This was non-breathable, heavy and stiff. Having read an article about a new fabric that had a breathable coating bonded to an outer material, we contacted the company LW Gore and asked for samples. Conny was sceptical, but we agreed to test it."
These were early days. Eighteen complete three-layer outfits were produced for testing during a transatlantic training sail. Keith Musto continues: "The base and middle layers were given the thumbs up. But while the crew liked the outer material, because of its lightness and comfort, it failed on waterproofness, a key requirement." Development continued. Acclaimed photographer and former Flyer 2 bowman Onne van der Wal remembers: "Because I worked on the bow, it was always wet and miserable. Keith constantly asked me how it was and how the gear felt. We went through many different suits, but eventually it became truly warm, dry, and perfect."
The three-layer system
The crew member responsible for coordinating this within the Flyer 2 team was none other than Grant Dalton (NZL), now CEO of the America's Cup syndicate Team New Zealand. He joined the yacht as a man in his early twenties: "I reported our findings while we were using the equipment. Keith was the pioneer, and GORE-TEX saw a gap in the market. It wasn't just about the outer layer, which is what most people think of. It was the entire three-layer system developed by Keith. From the polypropylene underwear to the jacket and salopettes that provided additional warmth, and finally the weatherproof outer shell. This was revolutionary because until then everything had been made of PVC. Essentially, you were just wearing a giant plastic bag."
The Flyer reunion
The special reunion in The Netherlands was preceded by months of searching for former crew members. "I'm just blown away," said Dalton, who went on to compete in five Whitbread races and won the America's Cup three times. "It sounds a bit of a cliche but the Flyer 2 campaign was the beginning and it was the cornerstone. If I look back, it was the launchpad and everything has kind of rolled into place since."
Walking along the docks toward Flyer 2, which was moored in Rotterdam's Veerhaven for the occasion, Keith Musto reflected on what the reunion meant to him: "It's wonderful. The atmosphere today represents exactly what I value in the company: enthusiasm, passion, and pioneering spirit."
Trophies and records
To this day, Conny van Rietschoten remains the only skipper to have won the Whitbread Round the World Race twice; subsequently known as the Volvo Ocean Race and now The Ocean Race. Both trophies were donated to De Maas during the anniversary weekend and are now displayed in the Flyer Room. KR&ZV De Maas is also the only yacht club ever to have won the race three times: with Flyer 1, Flyer 2, and later with Team ABN AMRO One, skippered by Mike Anderson.