How to Organize a Sailing Team

Always wanted to enter your sailboat in a race? There are two vital elements to starting a racing career. First, read the latest edition of Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing, by Dave Perry. Second, enter only casual races until you gain experience. Usually you need to have a membership at a yacht club recognized by the race committee.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Contact yacht clubs. Most clubs organize weeknight races designed more for fun than for cutthroat competition. Gather information from the organizers. Be sure you know the course, race time, location and starting signals.
2. Understand your crew needs. In windy conditions, you want to be as close as possible to the maximum allowable crew weight to help balance the boat. A 30-foot (9.1 meter) boat may sail with five to eight crew. Larger boats may have as many as 15 crew members. Most yacht clubs have a bulletin board or Web site listing crew members looking for a race boat. Keep an eye out for idle crew who often hang around the docks before a race.
3. Put one crew member in charge of equipment. This person is responsible for checking the boat and vital gear before and after each race to see if anything is missing or needs repair. Make sure he or she conducts a thorough check of safety gear, rigging, instruments, radio, engine and bilge pump.
4. Assign responsibilities to crew members. On most boats, the primary positions are driver (helmsman), tactician, bowman and mainsail trimmer. Few boats have enough skilled people to fully divide up these duties; the tactician might also be the mainsail trimmer, for example.
5. Convene a team meeting and discuss team goals (see 373 Plan an Organizational Meeting). Sensible captains and crews approach casual races with an attentive but lighthearted attitude. Do your best, and try to stay cool if you run into sail-handling problems or tactical errors.
6. Practice as much as possible in a wide range of sailing conditions, no matter how skilled the crew. Poor communication or clumsy steering can result in dangerous situations for everyone.
7. Discuss and agree on crew hierarchy, a common source of conflict. Few boats have an established chain of command, but all have a tacit hierarchy based on experience, personality and ownership of the boat. These relationships affect performance and safety. Allow for input from all crew members, and be sure the person at the helm can make decisions under pressure.
8. Have the team work on physical fitness. A stronger crew will sail faster. Encourage a daily regimen of sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups and frequent stretching. See 25 Design Your Workout Schedule.

Tips & Warnings

• Most casual races follow a triangular or oblong course marked by temporary buoys and last only an hour or two.
• As a novice racer, don't expect to attract the top people for each position. You'll have to make do with whoever is available.
• Keep in mind that a novice sailor who always shows up and practices hard will soon be more valuable than a seasoned veteran who is rarely available.
• Be clear about shared expenses and chores. Most owners provide lunch for their crew. Most crew help clean and prep the boat.
• Many boats are afflicted with high-strung captains who like to yell a lot, but no boat has ever sailed faster from yelling.
• Boost team morale with hats, shirts or anything fun. Keep the mood positive by being relaxed and supportive.
• Keep your boat in safe condition. Be sure the rig and hull are sound. Personal floating devices and firefighting equipment should all be aboard and in good shape.
• Avoid overloading any one person--few people can competently handle more than two duties.

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