Taking command

[Wansworth]

I suppose I spent most of my sailing singlehanded and in many ways it’s much easier with a crew delegating responsibility’s especially with a less qualified crew can lead I found to the skipper rushing at the last moment when he realizes the crew haven’t got it right or shouting from the helm instructions that only cause confusion and stress,is crew management a part of instructional courses?

 

[Stemar]

In so many circumstances, there are a load of chiefs and no Indians (is that racist now?) I always find it helps things to go smoother if I'm content to be an Indian, doing what needs to be done. Oddly, on the rare occasion I actually know what I'm doing, it seems to make a suggestion easier to accept.

As for managing the crew, there's a reason I describe Milady as the Admiral. I'm the Captain, and decide what sails to put up, when to put them away and so on, but she tells me where we're going, when she expects to get there and that the amount of heel is excessive.

 

[capnsensible]

Crew management is very much a part of instructional courses. Accepting responsibility and guiding people. ?

 

[johnalison]

Poor crew control is almost always accompanied by lack of competence and confidence. One sees it every day as boats return to their berths or come visiting. Lack of anticipation leads the skipper to give confusing orders and at this point all control is lost.

 

[Graham376]

Crew management is very much a part of instructional courses. Accepting responsibility and guiding people. ?

Before doing my YM Offshore exam weekend, I did the Coastal Skipper practical week. Without it I doubt if I would have passed the exam as, sailing short handed, I wasn't used to crew management and delegating. Took a couple of days to get used to being mob handed.

 

[Wansworth]

Working on a small coaster hardy anything was said certainly no shouting or running about,everybody knew what the tide was doing so knew what side to or if we had to turn using the anchour in narrow places it was done with a nod,unless we had summer guests of the skipper,who were deaf or given to assessing the situation it was all very stressless?

 

[alexincornwall]

Crew management forms a massive part of the Yachtmaster syllabus and a lot of would be passes go the wrong way because candidates fail to communicate with crew effectively, or consider their needs. This usually boils down to one of two extremes, either very introverted or very shouty. If you were to study beyond this to Cruising instructor level, you'd find that the whole basis of the course will be crew/student management related.

 

[colind3782]

I was just walking along the dock when a French boat came in so I thought I would hand them the lines. Lots of shouting going on and I thought "you're coming in a bit quick matey!" but it was OK, hitting the dock at speed slowed them right down.

 

[prv]

Working on a small coaster hardy anything was said certainly no shouting or running about,everybody knew what the tide was doing so knew what side to or if we had to turn using the anchour in narrow places it was done with a nod

My parents work together like that. On the rare occasions I sail with them, mooring or letting go can be a bit confusing because they forget that they need to tell me what they're thinking ?

Pete

 

[RJJ]

It's bloody hard and the more experienced I get the more I struggle with it, particularly bringing different guest on board. I really have to remember who knows what and that almost everyone needs supervision.

Recent "fails": delegating to a fairly experienced hand to fill the water tanks and then hearing them graunching the lids with the winch handle; giving detailed landing brief to two people of similar experience and failing to notice the fenders were deployed but dragging in the water.