Adapting

Chris Love 3 years ago

Crews, this one is for you. When crews get moved around from one boat to another, they constantly have to adapt to new bodies and personalities in their boat, and that can be incredibly challenging. When crews find themselves with brand new skippers, they immediately start to make some assessments: How big is this person? How quick is he across the boat? Does she like to pinch or foot? Does she like a lot of information or a little? Does he need psyching up? Calming down? A slap in the face or a pat on the back? Every skipper is different, both physically and mentally, but they are all needy. How can crews who have their own systems, their own routines, their own needs, suddenly change to suit the needs of someone else? How challenging is this and how long does it take? Can someone who is good at this adaptation sail with anyone, or can a pair only be really good if they both suit each other?

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Categories: dinghy sailing

6 comments

2 years ago

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Brooke Thomson 3 years ago

For a crew I think that being observant and versatile are definitely things that come with the job. With some focus it's not difficult to adapt to a new skipper, however I've discovered that no matter how good everything appears a team that doesn't connect will always be unpolished.

Most skippers are pretty oblivious to what a crew is exactly doing. So when jumping into a new boat it isn't really a matter of changing a lot of things, but finding the specific quirks that a certain skipper will get hung up on. I've found the hardest things to change are automatic reflexes. It can take a lot of concentration and a week or two to change or develop a deeply embedded habit even if its something incredibly simple. The main thing I focus on when starting out with a new skipper is "what can I do to make this skipper sail better than he/she would without me?" and things sort of fall into place from there.

I've found that this attitude works well short term, but not so much for the long run. I don't think the difficulty is really jumping from skipper to skipper, but trying to hang in there when there's no chemistry. Even if a crew naturally comes by an attitude of "love the one you're with" there are times a team just doesn't click. If you pair a good skipper with good crew they will obviously be good, but without a genuine connection things fall apart when they are put under real stress.

missing the point 3 years ago

you guys are missing the point. the most important thing a crew does is "holding the jib".
There is no purchase, only a clicker (if you're lucky!)... so the question is, HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU WRAP THE GENOA SHEET AROUND YOUR HAND????

--pumper

Xtreme Krew. 3 years ago

I think it is important as a crew to recognize that every skipper will be different, want/need different things. The best way to approach switching it up is to go in knowing everything, ask what they prefer, and deliver. Being able to go with the flow will help everyone on the team. Chemistry absolutely exists and can propel a good boat, however the ability to adapt will mostly compensate for some (not all) of the chemistry.

from expierence 3 years ago

I have found that it take chemistry between a skipper and a crew to have a real successful boat. And yes certain crews have the ability to change their mind set quickly enough to have that chemistry with multiple skippers.

Jib Holder 3 years ago

The real question is... do you wrap the jib sheet around your hand once or twice