| It is very enjoyable for a skipper to set a well | | | | are in you comfort zone, where possible. I know this |
| executed passage ending in a safe arrival at the | | | | is not always possible, in fact that is what sailing is all |
| destination, regardless if you know the harbour well. | | | | about, to teach and push you and your crew further. |
| It does not matter if you arrive safe and sound the | | | | The technical and theoretical sailing and navigation |
| experience can be very exhilarating. It cannot be | | | | skills you acquired at sailing school are crucial and |
| equaled by any other form of travel, and it gives you | | | | must be honed by regular practice, getting as much |
| a great sense of satisfaction. As skipper, you alone | | | | experience as possible. Experience managing the |
| are responsible for the safe handling of the boat and | | | | crew mainly comes with practice and experience |
| the welfare of the crew. If your experience is limited, | | | | only, and you can never have too much of that, as |
| you can always start with short day trips, building up | | | | you will always lack something. Pre-plan, plan and |
| to a sailing cruise lasting several days. | | | | visualize each passage carefully and, if you feel at all |
| The role of the skipper.The skipper's responsibility | | | | unsure at all, ask a more experienced sailor to check |
| includes all aspects of running the yacht, the boats | | | | your plans and confirm your interpretation of wind |
| safety and the well being of the crew. He or she | | | | and tides, and route. In doubt, never be afraid to call |
| should be capable and comfortable with all aspects of | | | | off a cruise. If you are concerned about maneuvering |
| sailing and navigation skills, and must have the ability | | | | your boat in tight spaces seek advice from other |
| to inspire confidence in the crew, regardless of | | | | skippers. This may not be possible, so you must be |
| circumstances, being an excellent communicator. He | | | | forced to carry it out regardless, just remember |
| or she should be able to manage and delegate | | | | maneuvering is not a race, and so pace yourself |
| appropriately all his duties, give the tasks that are | | | | accordingly. You may in advance, practice |
| relevant and appropriate to the crew to develop | | | | maneuvering with different boats in your own marina |
| there ability and experience, and grow. They should | | | | or harbour. If you have problems handling the boat in |
| ideally be neither under worked nor overburdened. | | | | a crowded marina, a well stationed crew, with roving |
| Most importantly, he or she should be patient with | | | | fenders will often help your avoid or soften a collision. |
| inexperienced crew members and be able to run the | | | | Remember to perform berthing manoeuvres slowly; |
| yacht with a light touch while retaining respect and | | | | this way if you do have a collision it will be relatively |
| authority. | | | | mild, and again, only your pride may be damaged. |
| The Crews Role. Good crew are worth their weight | | | | Manoeuvring is only one small aspect of sailing, but |
| in gold. The most important qualities are a positive | | | | the same logical, common sensible approach should |
| attitude, a sense of humour, and the ability to get on | | | | be your goal for other aspects of sailing. If you need |
| with others in the confined space of a yacht. If the | | | | a hand or advice, then ask for it. This is a sign of a |
| crew also have good sailing or navigation skills, the | | | | good skipper. Never be afraid to seek advice, it is |
| skipper can consider himself fortunate. The crew | | | | not a form of weakness but of strength. The |
| should be fully involved in the boat's management | | | | consequences could be fatal, where only your pride |
| and route planning, and the skipper should always | | | | could be hurt. Do not undertake passages that are |
| listen to their opinions. The crew must remember, | | | | well beyond your level of experience. Sailing is as |
| however, that a vessel at sea might appear to be a | | | | much about the planning, the organizing, the journey, |
| democratic environment but ultimately the skipper is | | | | the enjoyment, and the challenges, as it does about |
| in charge and must make the final decisions. This can | | | | the arrival. Successful day trips can therefore provide |
| be very difficult to the inexperienced skipper. | | | | just as much, or even more pleasure for both the |
| Skippers therefore vary tremendously in their | | | | skipper and crew as for the more ambitious. (The |
| approach to running a yacht. Good ones demonstrate | | | | more ambitious can always seek adventure on other |
| calm professionalism, while those unsure of their own | | | | boats, but you as a skipper must seek challenge in |
| abilities are often loud and tense. As a member of | | | | safely managing the boat). Short trips also involve |
| the crew you may encounter very different styles | | | | more close-quarters boat handling with which to |
| of boat management and you will need to assess | | | | improve skills. Although ultimate responsibility lies with |
| how you approach the idiosyncrasies of your skipper. | | | | the skipper, his job will be much easier if some of the |
| No two skippers are alike in the way they operate a | | | | crew have offshore passage-making experience. |
| boat, and if you crew for a succession of skippers, | | | | Passage making with an inexperienced crew puts |
| you may even find that their ways of doing things | | | | great demands on a skipper, who may feel under |
| are contradictory. If you still aspire to become a | | | | immense pressure. It therefore makes sense that if |
| skipper, then you will have hopefully learned from the | | | | you cannot find a practiced sailor in your crew, to |
| best skippers you have sailed with. You will also need | | | | adjust your strategy to suit the crew's level of |
| to know and demonstrate all aspects of sailing. | | | | familiarity. |
| Be a skipper. It is fairly easy to define the technical, | | | | Become a better Skipper.Try to always learn from |
| sailing and navigation skills required to be a skipper. | | | | the second you spend afloat, slowly building |
| You can learn these I skills and obtain certificates at | | | | knowledge of the sea, weather and your boat. |
| sailing schools. The ability to manage people aboard a | | | | Everybody gets disheartened or discouraged if |
| small yacht and develop your crew is considerably | | | | something does not go according to plan; but |
| different and difficult to define and more difficult to | | | | develop from these bad experiences, learn from |
| acquire. If you have business management skills | | | | them, that is what will make you more competent. |
| these will help you but you will need to modify your | | | | You will then learn, very quickly and develop the skills |
| approach significantly as running a boat is not like | | | | and confidence necessary to undertake longer cruises |
| running an office. Crew members are not paid | | | | lasting several days or more. Although it is important |
| employees, unless you are a commercial skipper. | | | | to develop your technical skills, concentrate on |
| Sailing for most skippers and crew is for experience | | | | improving your interpersonal and crew management |
| and for fun, so they must be handled with | | | | skills. Greenhorn crew can be anxious about the route |
| consideration and understanding. Very often they are | | | | ahead, while others may be brash and want to push |
| family or close friends and your relationships can be | | | | too hard. A good skipper therefore takes personal |
| seriously harmed by stressful experiences afloat. | | | | awareness in everyone on board and pays special |
| Your crew will feel more relaxed and confident if you | | | | consideration to novice or nervous crew members. |
| exhibit these qualities, so try not to let your own | | | | As an improving skipper therefore, concentrate on |
| nerves show or affect your behaviour. Try to avoid | | | | ensuring that everyone on board has a safe and |
| high stress situations by only attempting things that | | | | enjoyable experience. |