I have a question, A friend raced on a boat all summer, mostly once-weekly evenings, but the occasional weekend one-day. At the end of the season, there is an awards night. My friend was not contacted by the skipper and not invited to the awards night. He is unsure to know if he should feel slighted. I thought that it was cusomary to invite crew to such events AND pay for them (This was a $15 event). What say you all? Bawb
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I think your
friend was skunked,by the skipper. This of course assumes that he/other crew went to the event.If they did with go with out him being invited it stinks, He should crew some where else,just imagine the thought of winning against Capt Bly next season !
friend was skunked,by the skipper. This of course assumes that he/other crew went to the event.If they did with go with out him being invited it stinks, He should crew some where else,just imagine the thought of winning against Capt Bly next season !
My experience
I crewed one single time this summer during a regular Wednesday night racing event. I was invited to the BBQ they have every week afterwards. Not only did the skipper pay for my burger and beer, he stood on a bench and introduced me to everyone as a first timer, and the club presented me with a beer glass engraved with their logo. ...RickM...
I crewed one single time this summer during a regular Wednesday night racing event. I was invited to the BBQ they have every week afterwards. Not only did the skipper pay for my burger and beer, he stood on a bench and introduced me to everyone as a first timer, and the club presented me with a beer glass engraved with their logo. ...RickM...
I disagree
Over the past 7 years I have crewed with a couple of skippers. Whenever banquets, picnics, or just post race beer at the bar comes up, I feel weird when I don't contribute. Racing for many skippers is a pretty expensive proposition. If the crew can offset some of these expenses (and they are willing i.e. they offer to pay), skippers shouldn't be afraid to accept. On the other hand, if the skipper doesn't invite the crew to the club's event, I have not felt slighted. If I want to be part of all the events, I would join the club myself. With that said, I have had two VERY gracious skippers who pay for almost everything. One was a little quirky about who he introduced when excepting awards. The other gives full credit to his crew. Personally, I think paying for everything is extravagent. But that's a matter of personal choice. My reward was being able to sail, race, sometimes break stuff (it happens), and enjoy being with my crewmates. Mark
Over the past 7 years I have crewed with a couple of skippers. Whenever banquets, picnics, or just post race beer at the bar comes up, I feel weird when I don't contribute. Racing for many skippers is a pretty expensive proposition. If the crew can offset some of these expenses (and they are willing i.e. they offer to pay), skippers shouldn't be afraid to accept. On the other hand, if the skipper doesn't invite the crew to the club's event, I have not felt slighted. If I want to be part of all the events, I would join the club myself. With that said, I have had two VERY gracious skippers who pay for almost everything. One was a little quirky about who he introduced when excepting awards. The other gives full credit to his crew. Personally, I think paying for everything is extravagent. But that's a matter of personal choice. My reward was being able to sail, race, sometimes break stuff (it happens), and enjoy being with my crewmates. Mark
Somewhere in the middle
Having crewed for a gracious skipper, and looking race my boat next year, I would say that I'm in the middle from an opinion standpoint, with a perspective from both sides. My opinion regarding events is that, assuming that the skipper is attending, his crew should be invited. If there's a $15/head cover, as a captain I'd probably pick that up. If it was a $50/head formal dinner, I'm not sure if my budget would cover. I'm also in agreement with Mark, in that racing is not a cheap hobby. Just looking at what I need to lay out to get the boat "race ready" is going to put a dent in my wallet, not to mention individual race fees, etc. I consider myself as an equal, and possibly slightly behind the skill level of my crew. We all work together as a team. As it is, I'm "contributing" the boat to the effort. Will I cover all that I can specific to the cost of the race and the boat? Absolutely. Will I take care of all on-board food and refreshments? Most likely. Would I expect the crew to cover their own tab pre- and post-race. Probably. Would I accept any contributions from crew to offset race costs. Definitely. So, as I said, somewhere in the middle with each member of the crew (myself included) contributing what they feel is fair.
Having crewed for a gracious skipper, and looking race my boat next year, I would say that I'm in the middle from an opinion standpoint, with a perspective from both sides. My opinion regarding events is that, assuming that the skipper is attending, his crew should be invited. If there's a $15/head cover, as a captain I'd probably pick that up. If it was a $50/head formal dinner, I'm not sure if my budget would cover. I'm also in agreement with Mark, in that racing is not a cheap hobby. Just looking at what I need to lay out to get the boat "race ready" is going to put a dent in my wallet, not to mention individual race fees, etc. I consider myself as an equal, and possibly slightly behind the skill level of my crew. We all work together as a team. As it is, I'm "contributing" the boat to the effort. Will I cover all that I can specific to the cost of the race and the boat? Absolutely. Will I take care of all on-board food and refreshments? Most likely. Would I expect the crew to cover their own tab pre- and post-race. Probably. Would I accept any contributions from crew to offset race costs. Definitely. So, as I said, somewhere in the middle with each member of the crew (myself included) contributing what they feel is fair.
The issue isn't whether the skipper should pick up
the tab for his crew to attend the party. The real issue is, whether the skipper thinks enough of his crew to include 'em in the social occasion after they worked their butts off for him on his boat all year. Anyone who's crewed for somone all summer has a pretty good idea of how tight (or not) his skipper's budget is by then. So the skipper was wrong not invite crew, even it meant asking 'em to pick up their own tab...which anyone crewing for him who knew he was on a tight buget would offer to do anyway if HE had any class. But this skipper never even mentioned the party to Bawb. Even if he couldn't go, the least he could have done was tell his crew he couldn't...and offer them the opportunity to go without him--at their own expense if his budget couldn't stand to pick up their tab. Unless through some kind of misunderstanding the skipper assumed Bawb knew about the party and thought he'd make his own reservation if he wanted to go (which, if he never even asked "are you going?" isn't very likely), I'd crew for someone else next year.
the tab for his crew to attend the party. The real issue is, whether the skipper thinks enough of his crew to include 'em in the social occasion after they worked their butts off for him on his boat all year. Anyone who's crewed for somone all summer has a pretty good idea of how tight (or not) his skipper's budget is by then. So the skipper was wrong not invite crew, even it meant asking 'em to pick up their own tab...which anyone crewing for him who knew he was on a tight buget would offer to do anyway if HE had any class. But this skipper never even mentioned the party to Bawb. Even if he couldn't go, the least he could have done was tell his crew he couldn't...and offer them the opportunity to go without him--at their own expense if his budget couldn't stand to pick up their tab. Unless through some kind of misunderstanding the skipper assumed Bawb knew about the party and thought he'd make his own reservation if he wanted to go (which, if he never even asked "are you going?" isn't very likely), I'd crew for someone else next year.
Short Answer - Should have been invited
Peggie - You're right, the simple answer is that he SHOULD have been invited or at least informed about it. I digressed into the realm of finances and related responsibilities. As the original poster did mention that the skipper SHOULD pay, I got sidetracked on that aspect of it. T J
Peggie - You're right, the simple answer is that he SHOULD have been invited or at least informed about it. I digressed into the realm of finances and related responsibilities. As the original poster did mention that the skipper SHOULD pay, I got sidetracked on that aspect of it. T J
...more info.
To add: My friend has no idea if the rest of the crew was invited, since he didn't go to the event. The skipper in question races a boat that costs about $100K.
To add: My friend has no idea if the rest of the crew was invited, since he didn't go to the event. The skipper in question races a boat that costs about $100K.
Send a Thank You Card to the Skipper
Tell him how much he enjoyed the time on the water and how much he learned about racing, the skipper's boat and the skipper. It will prove invaluable next year when he crews for an opposing skipper who more appreciates his crew's time and effort.
Tell him how much he enjoyed the time on the water and how much he learned about racing, the skipper's boat and the skipper. It will prove invaluable next year when he crews for an opposing skipper who more appreciates his crew's time and effort.
I LIKE that idea, Rick 
I wouldn't say "for an opposing skipper who more appreciates his crew's time and effort" in so many words, though...be more a LITTLE more subtle: "what I've learned from you will hopefully make me a more valuable crew member for my next skipper."
I wouldn't say "for an opposing skipper who more appreciates his crew's time and effort" in so many words, though...be more a LITTLE more subtle: "what I've learned from you will hopefully make me a more valuable crew member for my next skipper."
Breaking up is hard to do
One of my previous skippers really holds a grudge against crew that "jump ship." A couple of former crew members left, and the skipper refused to evens speak to them, even at a funeral service. Yes, the guy has personality problems. And yes, probably the rest of the crew slowly stopped dealing with him and found other rides. (But he did pay for the banquet...except for the final year) Markdb
One of my previous skippers really holds a grudge against crew that "jump ship." A couple of former crew members left, and the skipper refused to evens speak to them, even at a funeral service. Yes, the guy has personality problems. And yes, probably the rest of the crew slowly stopped dealing with him and found other rides. (But he did pay for the banquet...except for the final year) Markdb
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