Out team just finished a serious race weekend. Our skipper (to be nameless) has spoiled an otherwise great time due to his ability to bark orders and mutter under his breath at the crew. Skipper is smart, very experienced and has superb sailing/race knowledge. The problem with many of these "A-Type" sailors is that they are poor communicators. Communication of the tasks and goals is really a necessary aspect to be a successful race team. This past weekend has taught me some very important lessons. 1. Communicate to your crew in a positive way 2. Don't take things too serious (hell...this is not the Volvo Cup) 3. If mistakes happen, talk about how to avoid it again. 4. Have a goal of keeping the race experience truly "positive" learning for all. Comments from other racers are welcome.
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Lesson learned
Unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence. Like everything in life, there are good and bad - some people might like to race with this captain, despite the abuse, because he wins. People will put up with an amazing amount of gunk to be part of the 'in crowd' (think back to high school!
) If this captain's style is not your cup of tea, find another boat. In a race environment, you'll almost always find a boat that needs crew, even if you just hang on the dock and look for an opportunity. The few times I've raced my boat I imagine I've been the antithesis of the 'screaming' captain, but that's not always good either (there is such a thing as being to soft when you're supposedly in charge. ) Dave Crowley h-26 Wind Dreamer
Unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence. Like everything in life, there are good and bad - some people might like to race with this captain, despite the abuse, because he wins. People will put up with an amazing amount of gunk to be part of the 'in crowd' (think back to high school!
) If this captain's style is not your cup of tea, find another boat. In a race environment, you'll almost always find a boat that needs crew, even if you just hang on the dock and look for an opportunity. The few times I've raced my boat I imagine I've been the antithesis of the 'screaming' captain, but that's not always good either (there is such a thing as being to soft when you're supposedly in charge. ) Dave Crowley h-26 Wind Dreamer
Racing Skippers
To be a 'good' racing skipper takes more than just knowledge of racing. It requires boat management skills also. This means open and clear communications with and among the crew. A skipper who understands the trim and tactical part of racing but fails to communicate well with his crew is NOT a 'good' skipper. He is good at PART of the job. Further more, the skipper who is usually the driver, has his primary responsibility to 'drive the bus'. If this is being done correctly, there is no time for him to be dealing with other crew members jobs, such as trim, crew placement, chute packing, line overrides etc... How can he be doing his job AND monitoring all these other things and deciding who should be doing what? That said, failing to stay on task is inevitably costing the whole boat speed and distance. My suggestion is that the crew should get together as a group and sit down with the skipper and explain that they will do their jobs BUT he must stick to doing his. In this way the whole group is working as a team toward the common goal of winning.
To be a 'good' racing skipper takes more than just knowledge of racing. It requires boat management skills also. This means open and clear communications with and among the crew. A skipper who understands the trim and tactical part of racing but fails to communicate well with his crew is NOT a 'good' skipper. He is good at PART of the job. Further more, the skipper who is usually the driver, has his primary responsibility to 'drive the bus'. If this is being done correctly, there is no time for him to be dealing with other crew members jobs, such as trim, crew placement, chute packing, line overrides etc... How can he be doing his job AND monitoring all these other things and deciding who should be doing what? That said, failing to stay on task is inevitably costing the whole boat speed and distance. My suggestion is that the crew should get together as a group and sit down with the skipper and explain that they will do their jobs BUT he must stick to doing his. In this way the whole group is working as a team toward the common goal of winning.
What do
racing sailboats and playing bridge have in common, you ask slyly? Both tend to draw a number of tense, tightly- wound people with good technical skills, but poor people skills. When "must win" displaces "must have fun," it's time to move on to another activity populated by a nicer brand of people.... Life, and good sailing weather, is just too short to allow yourself to be subjected to the crap these types like to dish out in the name of "winning."
racing sailboats and playing bridge have in common, you ask slyly? Both tend to draw a number of tense, tightly- wound people with good technical skills, but poor people skills. When "must win" displaces "must have fun," it's time to move on to another activity populated by a nicer brand of people.... Life, and good sailing weather, is just too short to allow yourself to be subjected to the crap these types like to dish out in the name of "winning."
"Drive the Boat"
Alan has a great point. The guy/girl at the helm is called the "helmsman". Sometimes they need a reminder of this. "DRIVE THE BOAT" is a good response to this, no yelling- just a gentle reminder. If the skipper doesn't trust the crew's boathandling abilities, either he needs new crew or a new outlook and competition level. Screaming fixes nothing and I would bet the course changes significantly when he's yelling, compounding any losses that crew mistakes have set you back. I'd suggest bringing a tactician/coach on board to help both crew and skipper during race and practice. If the floggings continue, find another boat. B
Alan has a great point. The guy/girl at the helm is called the "helmsman". Sometimes they need a reminder of this. "DRIVE THE BOAT" is a good response to this, no yelling- just a gentle reminder. If the skipper doesn't trust the crew's boathandling abilities, either he needs new crew or a new outlook and competition level. Screaming fixes nothing and I would bet the course changes significantly when he's yelling, compounding any losses that crew mistakes have set you back. I'd suggest bringing a tactician/coach on board to help both crew and skipper during race and practice. If the floggings continue, find another boat. B
alan is correct!
screaming skippers arn't usually at the front of the pack. most times they are trying to get their crew to make up for their own shortcommings. Ive been on a couple of boats over the yrs, that had screamers and i would jump ship at the first chance i got. i know from being a skipper myself that yelling only makes everything worse. i myself have yelled a few times but not about mundane things, such as a sheet was'nt being pulled in fast enough.. however all my crew knows that if my voice goes up, then someone is in danger.i feel that its the only time, raising your voice is warrented. its only a sailboat race. and the prime reason for being there is to have fun. i don't believe screaming is having fun. I have had a few world class racers on my boat over the yrs and non of them ever raised their voice. if there was a problem then it was discussed as to how to solve it and figure out how to not let it happen again. s/v Que Pasa?
screaming skippers arn't usually at the front of the pack. most times they are trying to get their crew to make up for their own shortcommings. Ive been on a couple of boats over the yrs, that had screamers and i would jump ship at the first chance i got. i know from being a skipper myself that yelling only makes everything worse. i myself have yelled a few times but not about mundane things, such as a sheet was'nt being pulled in fast enough.. however all my crew knows that if my voice goes up, then someone is in danger.i feel that its the only time, raising your voice is warrented. its only a sailboat race. and the prime reason for being there is to have fun. i don't believe screaming is having fun. I have had a few world class racers on my boat over the yrs and non of them ever raised their voice. if there was a problem then it was discussed as to how to solve it and figure out how to not let it happen again. s/v Que Pasa?
Get a Life!!
Sailing should be fun - period, whether racing, cruising or relaxing on the boat. We take it so seriously, we stopped for lunch on a 100 mile race last year! What a hoot! We got a cup for "Best Attitude Award". Nobody had ever stopped for lunch before during a race. We are the Committee Boat this year and we try to make it fun. If you are on a crew that screams at you, get on another boat.
Sailing should be fun - period, whether racing, cruising or relaxing on the boat. We take it so seriously, we stopped for lunch on a 100 mile race last year! What a hoot! We got a cup for "Best Attitude Award". Nobody had ever stopped for lunch before during a race. We are the Committee Boat this year and we try to make it fun. If you are on a crew that screams at you, get on another boat.
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