First Time Racing - Update

[TangaraToo]

Original thread - http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?471443-First-time-racing

I thought I'd just give an update on my first (and probably last) experience of crewing.
In a nut shell
Traveled 128 miles to get to boat. 128 miles home
Met Owner and crew at owners house
Walked to boat.
Set off for racing area - no briefing on boat given, left to find out which bit of string does what myself.
Racing was OK, 2nd and 3rd place. No major errors on my part. I was more efficient for second race than first as figured out how the crew operated.
late getting back to marina due to held race starts / re-starts. Owner dashed of to yacht club for lunch. No debrief on my performance or discussion of the racing or if I'd like to return or even if I would be welcome to return.
Heard nothing for 4 weeks until invited back (via brief email message) at short notice due to crew shortage. Declined for obvious reasons.

I'm sure this isn't how crew are generally treated but if it is then I can understand why getting crew can be difficult. I certainly wont be joining a crew again unless I know the owner.

 

[flaming]

I'm sure this isn't how crew are generally treated

It isn't...

In mitigation, not telling you what string does what is probably a result of assumed competence.

What I tend to do with new crew is have a chat with them as we motor down the river, detailing what role they are going to be doing, and find out if they have ever done that job before. If they have then a quick conversation about specific ways of working on board (i.e tacking responsibility, preferred types of set/drop or gybing roles) is normally all I need to check that they have the experience they claim to have. For example we once had a chap come on board as an "experienced bowman" who just looked at me blankly when I used the phrase "bear away set". We had a quick reshuffle... Lovely bloke but he wasn't a bowman.
If they haven't done the role before then either myself or one of the other regulars would run through the basics of the role with them. Doing this you very quickly see who has raced a lot and who hasn't. It's not a problem at all to bring people onto the boat who haven't raced, but we'd only be bringing someone on to do a trimming or bowman role in their first race with us if we were very confident in their ability, and then the discussion pre race would largely be about trimming cycles, speed build settings, specific trim needs of the boat or preferred bow setup etc. Someone who needed pointing out which rope was which would trigger major alarm bells if they'd come on board as a trimmer or bowman.

 

[TangaraToo]

It isn't...

In mitigation, not telling you what string does what is probably a result of assumed competence.

Agreed but skipper was aware I had zero yacht racing experience, only dinghy racing. Assumed competence is perhaps not the best way forward in that scenario. I guess I just didn't feel very welcome on board.

 

[lpdsn]

Keep trying. There's a million different ways to run a race boat. Some of them work, some of them don't. If you keep trying you'll eventually find a boat that works for you.

As Flaming says, you would expect new experienced crew to have a look around and work out what does what, so the owner must've assumed you were experienced. Seems a bit rude just disappearing for lunch after the race without a chat. The good boats have a proper de-brief after every race - it's the best way to identify where improvements are to be made, but I've definitely failed a couple of times when trying to persuade owners to hold them.

Incidentally, what role were you allocated?

 

[lpdsn]

I guess I just didn't feel very welcome on board.

That's a shame. I've sailed on cliquey boats before and you do get fed up with it. As I said above, just try another boat.

 

[TangaraToo]

Incidentally, what role were you allocated?

Jib trimmer and spinny pole guy set.

 

[lpdsn]

Jib trimmer and spinny pole guy set.

He seems to have had confidence in you then. And doesn't sound like you had poor results. Maybe just his style.

 

[TangaraToo]

Possibly just his style but I wont be in any rush to repeat the experience. Perhaps I'll find a boat needing crew in my normal sailing grounds on east coast.

 

[roblpm]

It isn't...

In mitigation, not telling you what string does what is probably a result of assumed competence.

What I tend to do with new crew is have a chat with them as we motor down the river, detailing what role they are going to be doing, and find out if they have ever done that job before. If they have then a quick conversation about specific ways of working on board (i.e tacking responsibility, preferred types of set/drop or gybing roles) is normally all I need to check that they have the experience they claim to have. For example we once had a chap come on board as an "experienced bowman" who just looked at me blankly when I used the phrase "bear away set". We had a quick reshuffle... Lovely bloke but he wasn't a bowman.
If they haven't done the role before then either myself or one of the other regulars would run through the basics of the role with them. Doing this you very quickly see who has raced a lot and who hasn't. It's not a problem at all to bring people onto the boat who haven't raced, but we'd only be bringing someone on to do a trimming or bowman role in their first race with us if we were very confident in their ability, and then the discussion pre race would largely be about trimming cycles, speed build settings, specific trim needs of the boat or preferred bow setup etc. Someone who needed pointing out which rope was which would trigger major alarm bells if they'd come on board as a trimmer or bowman.

Can u come and run my boat for me??!!

 

[Walther]

Racing was OK, 2nd and 3rd place. No major errors on my part. I was more efficient for second race than first as figured out how the crew operated.

That seems to have worked out well, then? Unless the owner and/or other crew were unpleasant regarding your initial inefficiency (which was not reported in your post), the lack of instruction doesn't appear to have been a problem.

late getting back to marina due to held race starts / re-starts.

That often happens. Sadly, if you need to stick to a fixed schedule, racing - or cruising, for that matter - may not be for you.

Perhaps I'll find a boat needing crew in my normal sailing grounds on east coast.

Well, yes. Trying to regularly daysail a boat located 128 miles away is just setting yourself up for frustration.

no briefing on boat given, left to find out which bit of string does what myself…. Owner dashed off to yacht club for lunch. No debrief on my performance or discussion of the racing or if I'd like to return or even if I would be welcome to return. Heard nothing for 4 weeks until invited back ...

This appears to be your real complaint: the owner's failure to provide coaching and feedback.

If you would feel more comfortable with a certain amount of handholding, no worries: many owners will happily accommodate. Perhaps even this one, if you tell him or her what you need/want.

Communication is a two-way street, and the onus is not entirely upon the owner (who as skipper has multiple responsibilities). If you were proactive in expressly requesting a briefing and debriefing, and the owner ignored your requests, then s/he is likely a jerk. But if you just 'suffered in silence', in my respectful opinion you are at least as much to blame for your own dissatisfaction with the experience.

 

[savageseadog]

A Skipper can be under a lot of pressure especially pre race. During a race the Skipper may not be able to do anything other than helm and/or control the boat. It's really the job of the established crew to coach new people, the Skipper is at fault for not telling them to do so.

 

[Judders]

Agreed. I assign new crew to an established crew as we leave. Usually someone who is involved in the same unit or at least someone who has done that job on the boat before.

That way I can do all my usual pretty race stressing in private

 

[Walther]

Communication is a two-way street, and the onus is not entirely upon the owner (who as skipper has multiple responsibilities). If you were proactive in expressly requesting a briefing and debriefing, and the owner ignored your requests, then s/he is likely a jerk. But if you just 'suffered in silence', in my respectful opinion you are at least as much to blame for your own dissatisfaction with the experience.

Thinking about my earlier post, I realize that it might sound a bit harsh, so I will elaborate.

Volunteer crewing is not like paid employment, where you might have to tolerate an employer's lack of interpersonal skills. With no paycheque at stake, you can afford to be somewhat assertive (although not aggressive, naturally) in voicing your likes and preferences. And if the owner is not reasonably receptive, by all means try elsewhere ... there are always skippers looking for new crew, and sooner or later you will find one whose style is compatible with your preference.

 

[Yacht Yogi]

I think the biggest difference you will notice when going from dinghy/single-handed to a race crew is that everybody in the race crew is assigned a specific job to do throughout the race and will stick to it. So you are most likely to be assigned to do like jib trim or mast or maisail trim; somewhere where the function is likely to be familiar and you can get a chance to see what's going on around you. The main points I like to see in crew is attention to detail, particularly looking at the sail trim and adjusting it as the wind conditions change and planning ahead to be ready for what you will do in the next manoeuvre. Try to avoid the "cleat it off and go sit on the rail" attitude.