I really enjoyed Dave Knowlton’s piece on ‘Krew’ in the last S-t-S. Here are a few additions and variations from the O-My-God’s bag of tricks, which have proved successful in our crew building efforts.
Reinforce good work. After any maneuver, sail change, transition, etc., “Good job, everyone!" goes over well. This builds confidence and encourages risk taking.
Plan your schedules. We plan 3 months at a time; it is easier to keep in perspective. Also, it seems to fit the rhythms of our schedule well. I make up 5 x 8 schedules and distribute or mail them a month or so in advance. We still have to call people, but at least they know what to expect.
How many? It depends on your boat, the race, and the average experience level. On Henderson Inlet, six was right, because it was light and five of us had sailed together for quite a while. On an average South Sound race, we like to have at least seven for smoother spinnaker gybes and takedowns in any condition. When we sail longer races, twelve are not too many, especially when we need to stand watches. However many we need, we try to confirm enough so that we can afford to have one or two no-shows, which seems to happen no matter what.
Apres-race. We routinely gather at the Budd Bay, or other available watering hole, for beverages and snacks in a warm, dry environment. The O-My is often a bit dank and crowded after races, and our cooking ability is limited. This fall we began a tradition of “the skipper buys the nachos” — and although David used to grumble, he admits that it works well for retaining crew — and is definitely cheaper than new gear! This technique is particularly effective in retaining young, strong, enthusiastic college students with limited incomes. Also, it provides a forum to review the race while it’s fresh in everyone’s minds.
Crew Presents. We don’t have the resources to outfit our crew like some of the “big boys”. However, after surviving the Hope Island experience, it seemed like something to keep folks warm was in order. So, for Christmas we bought neck gaiters for those crew who had appeared regularly during the fall season. They were cheap, one size fit all, and provided a welcome inducement to keep crew warm, and on the rail, longer.
Opportunities. We encourage crew to come on cruises and deliveries if they are interested. We also have had a video party to watch North’s latest training release, and David’s catamaran videos. We’ve had a couple of practice sails, but it’s hard to fit in extra training after the fall.
Gear. We have a few sets of spare foulies on board, and extra boots and gloves. We make sure to tell newcomers to bring plenty of warm clothes, even in the summer. Right now, we’re replacing the old musty lifejackets with ones people will actually wear, in time for the longer spring races we do.
No one formula works for everyone. The most important things seem to be — find crew with whom you’re compatible, and then stay creative about ways to keep them coming back as long as possible.
Susanne Windels, Sky Hi