Don't forget-

#4 A semi soft object to cushion the blow of a boom in a jibe, preventing undue shock in rigging.

#5 - Spray deflector

# 6 Rail Meat. Owner gave me his F-27 Tri to race while he was on vacation. His sister in law shows up and asks what she needs to do? "Your rail meat" sit down where we tell you. FYI: Not an appropriate term for a woman in her thirtys. I've been paying for that remark ever since.

Good crew is a good sailor in his or her own right.
Should be able to take the helm and sail the boat very successfully.
Just as many bad owners as crew.
Skip should be the better sailor and tactician. If that person is the forward hand and called tactician...still the skip..the other guy just owns the boat.

Your correct. We are just having fun, (and telling stories)
I crewed in the Queens Cup across Lk. Michigan on a F-28. The owner had been on his own boat twice before that night. The best guy driving was a 23 year old friend. His father was sail trimmer and I was foredeck. When the weather got rough the owner wouldn't drive, the three of us would.

When we raced my Hobie 18 the kid would steer and I would call tactics. He's very good at helming. Being a good owner/skipper is knowing what each crew does well and giving them the opportunity to get better while still doing some crosstraining for other positions on the boat.

Realistically I think that the crew has a more important role in keeping the boat going fast than the skipper. Even on a simpler boat like a H16. Meaning non-spin.

OK, so that was a leading question. For you parents with children crewing for you, do not miss the chance to give them the helm. Tom took over on our H-16 at 14, later was skipper on our H-18. We are now all three "crew less", but it is time for Tom to get Dan on a boat as crew, then skipper. And so the cycle continues.

Caleb H-17 6446
Tom H-17 6185
Dan Wave Number 4

Crew - (K' r-oo):
(1) a useless appendage on sail craft designed to inadvertantly hinder the performance of said craft
(2) Skipper's assistant tasked with maintenance, navigation, cooking, bottom cleaning, tactics, car maintenance and other menial tasks



Insert pic of me after #1! LOLOL!