The best crew know how to be helpful, stay out of harm's way, and learn to be in tune with the boat, the skipper, and the rest of the crew.
With the first "Let's Go Boating" sign-up deadline approaching (March 18) learn what any crew member worth his or her salt* needs to know.
If you’ve been invited to help crew a sailboat for a daysail, your behavior will affect everyone else on board and determine whether you’re asked back. So it’s good to know in advance what’s expected and where the boundaries are…because expectations and boundaries are different on land than on the water.
Don’t be late.
There’s an ancient saying that’s as true for daysailing as it is for launching an armada, “Time and tide wait for no man.” Landspeople may not be tuned into the rise and fall of the tides, but every ocean-going sailor know their importance and checks the tide charts before planning a trip and setting a time to meet and cast off. The consequences of setting sail or returning to port at the wrong time can be catastrophic, depending on conditions in your area.
If you’re running unavoidably late, call and speak to the skipper. Don’t be surprised if the boat needs to leave before you can get there, because without water, a boat can’t sail and can be left “high and dry” for up to 10-12 hours, depending on when and where it’s run aground.
Realize that a sailboat is its own universe.
Casting off the lines means cutting the ties with your land-based life, if only for a few hours. A daysail can become an oasis of peace, beauty, and serenity, or a nightmare, depending on the actions of a single crew member. (We’ll discuss the role of the captain’s behavior in another post.)
On a boat you’re in a confined space with other people, so everything everyone does has a greater impact. For example, people who are applauded for being gregarious on land may come across as obnoxious chatterboxes on a boat, especially if they’re yacking instead of tacking to avoid a collision. On land, standing or sitting in a particular spot is no problem, but on a boat if you’re blocking access to a winch that needs to be used NOW or standing in the companionway when the skipper needs to go below for a tool, you’re going to be asked to move.
Accept the skipper as your lord and master.
Even a casual day sail can have its thrills and chills, close encounters, and unexpected weather changes. That’s why the captain is king. She may be your little sister, he may be your best friend, or a casual acquaintance, but on a boat, the skipper is in charge…of the boat, of your safety, and basically, the day. Debating a maneuver with the skipper or refusing to act smartly when the command to come about or gybe is given can result in injury to others or damage to the boat, which can endanger everyone’s safety. If you want to discuss the whys and wherefores of a command after everything’s settled down, the skipper will usually be happy to explain why it was necessary and turn the event into a valuable learning experience.
Democracy doesn’t work on a sailboat, so accept that the skipper is the boss of you, and everyone else on board. This can be a hard attitude adjustment to make for some people with strong egos or bossy dispositions. If you think you’ll find time-honored rule of the sea hard to accept, decline the invitation, for the sake of everyone’s safety. Do the same, of course, if you truly believe that the skipper is incompetent and may make decisions that will put the boat in danger. (There will be more on this subject in future articles.)
Pitch in.
When you’re first invited, make sure the skipper knows your level of experience and your willingness to participate in sail handling, steering, lunch making, docking, anchoring, and putting the boat away at the end of the day. Sailing isn’t a spectator sport. It’s more labor intensive than power boating, so unless you’ve cleared it with the skipper in advance, don’t expect to sit around watching the scenery go by without pitching in to help.
Once underway, some skippers are happy to teach you anything you want to know about sailing and appreciate all offers of help, while others find it easier to do most everything themselves unless they can count on experienced crew. Everyone is expected to help make the boat ready to sail and put the boat away, which involves folding and covering sails, covering winches, cleaning the galley, rinsing down the boat, and offloading gear. If you’re not willing to exert yourself and pitch in, it’s probably best to decline the invitation.
Keep one part of your consciousness on the boat at all times.
This is sometimes easy to forget when you’re distracted by the novelty of seeing your city from “the other side.” Or simply amazed that a simple puff of wind can heel the boat at such an angle. Suddenly you’re clutching a lifeline for dear life, forgetting that your job is to ease the mainsheet in a puff to prevent the heeling you’re now experiencing. “Ease the mainsheet,” the captain calls, but you’re too busy hanging on for dear life to register that he’s talking to you.
An experienced crewperson, would have been scanning the water with one eye while participating in a friendly conversation. She would have seen the gust coming, braced herself, had the uncleated sheet already in her hand, and eased it before boat had a chance to heel. Then, retrimmed, cleated the line, and returned to the conversation without missing a beat.
Be flexible.
It’s not just hard, it’s impossible to predict when you’ll be arriving back in the slip, so don’t accept the sailing invitation if you have to be somewhere afterwards at a fixed time. It puts the skipper and everyone else in a tough spot if you declare, after you’re underway, that you need to meet your your boss for dinner at 6 pm. sharp. The wind may die, the currents may be against you, the motor may fail, and any number of other obstacles may interfere with your planned arrival. Plus, keep in mind that arriving at the dock isn’t the end of the sail. Putting the boat away can take up to an hour.
Bring food.
Nothing endears you more to a skipper and fellow crew than being the person who brings the best goodies. Be generous about contributing food and wine/beer, and other faults you may have as crew may be soon forgiven. If you can bake, bring homemade muffins or cookies to share. If you can cook, bring homemade fried chicken or other finger foods. If you can’t bake or cook, deli food makes a good impression. Don’t try to skate by with a bag of chips, although canned cashews and pistachios are always scarfed enthusiastically. The effort you make in the food department will improve your position on the next invitation list.
Other dos:
Bring what you need with you, as long as it will fit into a medium-sized duffle or backpack, including sunblock, gloves, a hat, warm layers, water, and soft-soled shoes (no black soles).
Act like a team player. Try to anticipate the needs of the boat and your fellow crew members, and every maneuver will go more smoothly.
Find ways to make yourself useful, even if you’re not an experience sailor. This might involve making and serving snacks, straightening up below, gathering up the trash, coiling lines, etc.
Be curious and ask questions. Start by learning the names of the parts of the boat.
Tune in to the Zen of the experience. Sailing can be like meditation if you find a quiet spot to experience it.
Thank the skipper for the day, by word and deed. Perhaps invite him/her for a beer after you’ve helped put the boat away.
Definite don’ts:
Don’t spill red wine on the fiberglass. It might make permanent stains and tick off the skipper.
Don’t be a wuss. Don’t complain about things you can’t change. Put on another layer if you’re cold, watch the horizon if you’re feeling seasick, and try to see any discomfort as part of the adventure. Your whingeing will only make everyone else miserable, so buck up.
Don’t overstate your sailing abilities. There’s nothing more obnoxious than a know-it-all who doesn’t know much. Notice that truly experienced sailors are understated and humble. They know the sea is a fickle mistress who will mess with them if they act cocky.
If someone—even your child—falls overboard, don’t jump in after them. Use the practiced man overboard procedure to rescue them. Otherwise there will be two of you to rescue and double the chances of failure. (More about this in another post.)
* Salt was used to pay Roman sailors. So any sailor "worth his salt" was worth what he was getting paid.