The Tortoise Versus the Hare

Contrary to the way it appears, yacht racing is not always a contest of speed. Sure, having good speed makes it somewhat easier to win at this sport, but boat speed does not stand alone as the single, primary goal aboard a racing yacht. There have been many races won by a slower boat whose crew excelled at one, or more, of the sport's other disciplines. For instance, it is a common occurrence for a well-crewed, faster yacht to blast off the starting line and sail to the wrong side of a race course, only to find the wind there decreased by just a bit. At the same time, a slower, but smarter (or more observant), boat sails to the opposite side of the course, where the wind blows a bit stronger, or from a more favorable direction. By luck or skill, the slower boat finds better conditions and arrives at the first mark well ahead of the faster, misdirected yacht. This fast-boat vs slow-boat scenario pervades the sport of yacht racing, allowing not-so-fast competitors to perform well. Yacht racing is a ever-changing, complex game requiring a wide range of otherwise unrelated skills, each of which must be constantly addressed and weighed against the other.

The Skills

To win at sailboat racing, a sailor must be accomplished in a variety of skills and disciplines. Success at the sport requires:

• boat preparation,
• teamwork,
• some physical strength,
• knowledge and experience with shaping the sails for given wind and wave
• conditions,
• prediction of weather,
• the ability to read wind and current on the water,
• knowledge of the racing rules,
• tactics and strategies to use against competitors,
• practice, practice, practice!
• To keep track of all these things is easily enough to put one in a constant state of perceptual overload!

The Crew Positions

Obviously, sailboats come in a variety of sizes. There are numerous crew arrangements and organizations depending on the size of boat on which you might sail. The typical bay racer might use the following organization of crew. (The positions are listed from the front of the boat to the rear...)

• Bowman - responsible for making sure sail changes go smoothly, jibing the spinnaker pole, organizing and running the front end of the boat.
• Mastman - the bowman's assistant, this position is often responsible for controlling the vang, an important responsibility when conditions approach overpowering status...(releasing the vang dumps power in the top of the main sail), "jumping" halyards occurs at this station and is a technique to get sails raised all the way up in a hurry.
• Utility - a good place for an experienced hand who can spot trouble and step in to help appropriately. In addition, this position is often used to train newcomers to the sport.
• Cockpit - responsible for maintaining the various cleats usually located in the vicinity of the companionway (the doorway used for getting below decks), packing the spinnaker (so it does not come out twisted), snacktician...
• Port Trimmer - responsible for trimming jib/genoa, and spinnaker sheets and guys on the left side of the boat.
• Starboard Trimmer - responsible for trimming jib/genoa, and spinnaker sheets and guys on the right side of the boat.
• Mainsheet/Tactician - responsible for keeping the main sail and the traveler trimmed properly, and making suggestions about possible tactics and strategies throughout the race
• Owner/Helmsman - paying the bills, steering, making the decisions, claiming the glory, praising the crew...