On Being A Crew Member – Part Two: Learn the Boat

The first project for any crew – new or experienced – is to learn the boat. Each position on the boat will use different pieces of equipment. The equipment will also change depending on the weather and the circumstances.
The foredeck will need to know what kind of sails are on the boat, where they are stowed and the procedure for changing the sails. A sail trimmer (good name for a person that will do lots of work) will need to be familiar with winches, traveler cars, tracks, sheets, and other items scattered around the boat. A navigator or tactician will be most effective by knowing where the charts, compass, binoculars and race directions are located.
Everyone on the boat should know about food, reefing, and safety equipment. Procedures for heavy weather and person overboard are two situations that require familiarity with the boat and equipment.
The best way to begin learning about the boat is to have a guided tour. It is important at this stage to learn how the captain likes things done. There are many ways to store mainsails, fold jibsails, and coil lines. Every captain has a special place for binoculars, ice chests, winch handles, and navigation equipment. There are also a number of procedures for reefing sails, person overboard recoveries, raising and lowering sails, ad so on. Get the idea?

This guided-tour introduction also begins the process of learning how to cope/adapt to the people on the boat. Learn the skipper’s and crew’s attitudes about smoking, kids, dogs, liquor/ non-liquor, diet drinks, early/late bedtimes, late parties, staying on the water, and going to town for dinner. The key is to recognize the habits of the boat you are going to sail on. If you are an accommodating type, the differences may not be an issue; however, be realistic. If there are problems discuss them up front, resolve the issues or look for a new boat.
This may sound a little like real life – good communication, proper courtesies, and so on. So it is; this is one of the values of sailing. There probably is a moral here, but it will be left to those sailing together to discover and apply the lessons.
Buddy McDowell, April 1989 Foghorn

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