Now the thing that makes the boat a winner ... is ... COMMUNICATION. Every time we win a race I think about why the effort was successful. Communication I think is at the top of the list.
I read this article in my last Sail Magazine that was quite compelling. I believe that on Graffiti we use most of these strategies. I will explain with an imaginary race. If some of this is familiar, I am taking a lot of the info directly from the magazine, with my interpretations.
Usually our morning starts out with breakfast at the Spar and reviewing the information our tactician has gathered. It is presented at the table in a well-organized binder with tabs and labels. We have no idea what to do with it, though the tide tables look familiar. Any way, after we get down to the boat to load our gear, we talk about the conditions and how we should tune the rig. This is a J-24 you know.
We set out to the course, most of us know our positions on the boat along with the duties that come with. Not a lot of boats are fortunate enough to have a steady crew to create those dynamics.
The first step is to decide who is responsible for saying what, when, and to whom. We have not done that yet, but we are working on it. How you say something is almost as important as what you say; a positive comment is much more helpful than a negative one.
A lot of info needs to be gathered and relayed before the start of the race, like wind patterns, current, sail selection, what side of the course to be on, and strategy for the first beat. Remember previous races and wind conditions. What worked and what did not? What was fast or slow? What maneuvers need to be improved? What changes should be made to the rig? This would probably be the best time to make sure everyone knows the game plan.
After the prep signal stop all nonessential chatter. We have not done that yet, but we are working on it. This is particularly important on the big boats. The person at the helm needs info, but not from everybody; it is to confusing. The helmsman should only be communicating with the tactician or the bowman who is the lookout and the line caller. On the big boats the bowman should use hand signals to communicate with the helmsman, you guys can figure out what signals to use. Me, I am just close enough to the skipper that I can turn around and yell, “Hey, don’t look at me, drive the boat!”
After the start, everybody has to concentrate on making the boat go really fast. This is a critical time in the race. The only person who is talking to the helmsman is the tactician, or a designated observer, on the rail, to relay speed and height relative to nearby boats. Tell the driver whether they are gaining windward/leeward distance. Also someone has to call big waves and puffs, important for the driver and the trimmer.
The trimmer and driver must be as one. Dave and Joe are best buddies. Another crew member should watch out for marks, trends in the breeze, and lay lines. That is me. I relay those to the tactician who assesses, I love that word, the information and makes the long-range calls and tells the driver. Sean and I are best buddies.
When you are getting to the weather mark the driver or the tactician should be calling out what type of spinnaker set to make, gybe, bear-away, tack- set. The trimmer should make sure everybody understands his job and that everything is set for the maneuver. The headsail trimmer should call out the boat lengths to the mark. The call to raise the chute should be made only by the driver, they are the ones that know when the time is right.
Always be aware of who is around you. There is always a lot going on at the time of a spinnaker set, yet someone still has to watch for boats.
Now it is my turn to trim. The spinnaker trimmer should be in constant communication with the driver. If the spinnaker trimmer has to ease the pole forward, ask the driver if they have headed up, or is it a header? Or tell them to put the beer down and drive the damn boat. That is what I am talking about, communication!
When it is time to gybe, saying 3, 2, 1, trip, helps the crew with timing through the gybe. The one who is working with the pole should yell set or made at the time forward work is done.
Coming to the leeward mark, the driver or tactician should tell everyone what the final approach and takedown will be. The driver should call the drop and someone should countdown the number of boat lengths or seconds to the mark. Doing this helps the crew know where they are in the rounding maneuver.
After you have finished the race, and before you get back to the dock, if everybody is not too cold and cranky, talk about how things went and get everyone involved. Ask the your crew members to comment on what they think needs work and what worked.
No matter what place you finished in, make it a point to end this meeting on a positive note and a beer. This will keep your crew on an upbeat and ready for the next race, or beer.
Keep racing!
Mike Miranda, foredeck on Graffiti