What makes a really good or really bad skipper?

[armchairsailor]

I have never known an excellent skipper who isn't also at least a good sailor! I agree that a good skipper will be fully aware of everything; I just struggle with the idea that a bad sailor can be fully aware of everything on a yacht, therefore a good skipper must also be a good sailor - surely?

The best skippers I have ever known are hugely experienced and knowledgeable, calm under pressure, great at motivating, inspiring, conscientious, careful, good at communicating, at one with their vessel and crew, in tune with the conditions, confident but aware of their own limitations, safe, good humoured, organised, self aware, enthusiastic, resilient, practical and competent.

I have always thought that being a truly excellent skipper is basically impossible. There are so many facets to sailing that one can probably never be excellent at all elements. For me this is one of the beauties of sailing - you never stop learning!

Pete

That sums it up extremely well: we are talking good management skills here, nothing more, nothing less.

A guy I once knew was well regarded as a very good skipper indeed, but hardly ever mentioned that he sailed at all. I was told he delivered an Admirals Cupper across the North Sea when it got nasty and blew up: it wasn't pleasant but his crew never felt unsafe and he got them home perfectly. In fact, his only comment to me on sailing was about sailing was with regard to a Lofoten cruise he did: "Norway? Bloody awful place. Takes ages to get anywhere and the gin is £30 a bottle!" He was on the board for two blue chip companies, so had serious managerial skills. I think that was his great strength.

 

[mjcoon]

What's really bad is more than one skipper. I was once on a boat where two people, both excellent skippers in their own right, both thought they were in charge.
We ran aground.

Years ago when I sailed on flotillas with pick-up crews (usually all keen sailors) someone at home asked about chain of command. I explained that the formula was simple: whoever had the helm was in charge for that period, and everyone else just argued!

Mike.

 

[webcraft]

.
I don't know what makes a good skipper, but I do know that doing it commercially - whether instructing or just running a skippered charter - concentrates the mind wonderfully.

Keeping the crew happy is secondary only to keeping the boat safe.

No reason why the same can't apply in ordinary sailing circumstances.

- W

 

[Vanilla]

The best ...... are hugely experienced and knowledgeable, calm under pressure, great at motivating, inspiring, conscientious, careful, good at communicating, at one with their vessel and crew, in tune with the conditions, confident but aware of their own limitations, safe, good humoured, organised, self aware, enthusiastic, resilient, practical and competent. Pete

LOL that would make a great partner let alone skipper! Sadly not met either yet, fully meeting those criteria

 

[Biggles Wader]

.
I don't know what makes a good skipper, but I do know that doing it commercially - whether instructing or just running a skippered charter - concentrates the mind wonderfully.

Keeping the crew happy is secondary only to keeping the boat safe.

No reason why the same can't apply in ordinary sailing circumstances.

- W

I would sum that up as competance and leadership.Both required to be a good skipper.The management side is more about boat ownership and preparation,also important but without leadership skills ultimately useless.

 

[Langrick1]

No, you are totally right. Some excellent skippers are not good sailors and visa versa. Some of the best skippers I have been out with don'r SEEM to do anything but it obvious they are fully aware of everything that is going on and the limits of each individual crew member and how to use them best and get the best out of them.

Probably the best crewman I ever sailed with was a very senior army officer. I usually give orders by asking that things be done - "would you ease the jib sheet a bit" or "any chance of a coffee" sort of thing. whatever I asked/ordered he jumped to do.

Think there is some correlation between being good at following orders and giving them.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Think there is some correlation between being good at following orders and giving them.

I never give orders on my boat, because I am in no position to give orders. I make requests. What is it about small plastic sailing boats which makes some people (not you, Langrick, clearly) turn into the reincarnation of Captain Bligh? Do they channel the spirit of General Montgomery on family trips by car?

 

[JumbleDuck]

The best skippers I have ever known are hugely experienced and knowledgeable, calm under pressure, great at motivating, inspiring, conscientious, careful, good at communicating, at one with their vessel and crew, in tune with the conditions, confident but aware of their own limitations, safe, good humoured, organised, self aware, enthusiastic, resilient, practical and competent.

Substitute "at one with their vessel and crew" with appropriate words and you get a pretty good definition of people who are good at anything, from plumbing to brain surgery.

 

[Jonas]

What makes a good skipper? One who doesn't believe in all the 'management skills' and 'leadership qualities' psychobabble (ducks head back below parapet).

 

[laika]

Good skipper takes the blame but give the credit. Someone makes a mistake and the good skipper thinks "What could I have done to prevent that happening?".

Bad skipper looks for someone else to blame.

 

[webcraft]

Good skipper takes the blame but give the credit. Someone makes a mistake and the good skipper thinks "What could I have done to prevent that happening?".

Bad skipper looks for someone else to blame.

Great post.

- W

 

[JumbleDuck]

What makes a good skipper? One who doesn't believe in all the 'management skills' and 'leadership qualities' psychobabble (ducks head back below parapet).

Hear bloody well hear.

 

[nimbusgb]

Good people skills.

Especially if you are a singlehander!

 

[nimbusgb]

.
I don't know what makes a good skipper, but I do know that doing it commercially - whether instructing or just running a skippered charter - concentrates the mind wonderfully.

Keeping the crew happy is secondary only to keeping the boat safe.

No reason why the same can't apply in ordinary sailing circumstances.

- W

Hmm. Sod the boat, keep the people safe and happy first!

 

[Langrick1]

What makes a good skipper? One who doesn't believe in all the 'management skills' and 'leadership qualities' psychobabble (ducks head back below parapet).

Such qualities do without doubt exist.

The more skilled practitioners exercise them without you really noticing. The "psychobabble" almost invariably comes from people who are out of their depth with the situation.

The most dangerous being whena "leader" refuses to listen to subordinates who may well have specific knowledge he does not.

Leadership is not knowing everything - it is about having judgement in using the knowledge of other people to the best effect.

Not forgetting to give due credit for that knowledge.

 

[Langrick1]

Hmm. Sod the boat, keep the people safe and happy first!

I take the point.

But thinking about it - the best way to keep the people safe is to bring the boat home safe.

If you can manage it safe and happy is even better.

 

[haydude]

Good people skills.

I believe that nowadays we value too much people skills against practical skills. If it is just for a day sail, people skills alone would be OK, but day sails do not make skippers. What makes skippers are long passages and days upon days at sea. At that point people skills help but they would not be my priority against experience and seamanship.

We all know of skippers who sadly lost their lives and those of their crews who were judged as being of very good character, good company, blah blah, but were "unlucky" because of the decisions they made to sail to hazardous latitudes, with uncertain weather and without being fully aware of the seaworthiness or limits of their yachts.

Sadly the same concept applies in business and government. Millions in investments and thousands of jobs are lost every year by leaders with good "people skills", that had no vision or direction whatsoever.

 

[mikeinkwazi]

Crew drive me mad so i assume that means I am a bad skipper. so i solved the problem by sailing single handed
i have a few arguments with myself but after a bit of a chat i tend to make it up

I agree, a good Skipper knows which way the wind is blowing!

 

[JumbleDuck]

The most dangerous being whena "leader" refuses to listen to subordinates who may well have specific knowledge he does not.

Golly. Imagine sailing with someone who thinks everyone else on the boat is a subordinate. Can you imagine what such a person would be like on a camping holiday?

 

[rorysmith]

Here goes. First post as a new member so please be gentle. A brief recollection on what makes a bad skipper. With wife and friends we chartered an Atlantic 49 out of Lefkas. First thing the (American) skipper confirmed to us that all drinks aboard were included in the price. Cheers all round! Second thing he told us that when ashore we would have a kitty for drinks (murmers of approval). Third thing he told us was that he and the hostess (also American) are not expected to contribute to the kitty. (Slight murmerings of disapproval). Turned out the pair of them drank like fish !