I'm going racing

[PaulinVictoria]

Well, if I can't afford a boat of my own I might as well get out on the water somehow so on Sunday I'm crewing on a 35' racer. In at the deep end and all that, I've got a total of 2.5 days sailing experience, I'm bricking myself

Any tips aside from "don't fall off"?

[smackdaddy]

Very cool Pualin! Just do whatever the skipper tells you to do. And when he/she yells, curses and calls everyone idiots...just smile and work harder. That drives them crazy.

Then drink all the beer on the boat and you will be loved.

Bring back a report on how it went!

[Faster]

If you drink all the beer on the boat make sure that you brought it on board in the first place! And I suggest you drink it after the race.

As far as becoming "crew" on a regularly campaigned racer, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First - be reliable. If you say you're going to show up, do so. Nothing worse than expecting a full crew only to have one or more change their mind at the last minute.. esp if it was only because it might rain....

Watch, listen and learn. As you become accustomed to the routine, try to anticipate required actions. Talk to your railmate, ask questions - all the whats. whens. and whys that come to mind. Presumably the skipper is aware of your limited experience, most will be happy to teach you if you listen and learn from day one.

If this crew is the "knock a few back afterwards" variety - and few are not - bring your share or more, esp early on.

Finally, when the boat docks, DO NOT grab your gear, say thanks and leave. Stay to help put the boat away - there will be lines to coil and store, sails to fold, covers to put on, decks to hose down etc. Hang out and help with all that and you're sure to be invited back...

[paulk]

Let us know if you come east. We could use more crew.

[DrB]

listen, pay attention, stay out of the way.

If you have job to do, ask first how you should do it and when you should do it. Be ready to do before you need to do it. For example if you are mast and your job is hoist the spinnaker, be ready to before the boat is at the leeward (downwind) mark . When the hoist is called for, hoist as fast as you can but make sure you keep and eye one the person tailing and the bowman for instructions if something gets screwed up. Once the chute is flying get out of the way.

Don't take yelling from the skipper personally as long as it isn't degrading. If it is degrading speak up and say something and then find an bother boat to race on. That skipper is a jerk.

DrB

[PaulinVictoria]

Well the skipper is a sailing instructor as is one of the crew so hopefully they are used to dealing with complete newbies and won't be too hard on me. If nothing else I can probably manage to be moveable ballast

[Hudsonian]

Wear non-slip soles. In a bag of less than one cubic foot bring gloves, sunglasses, nerd strap, sunscreen, soles, pile pullover, and a watch cap. Within the bag secure your cell phone, keys, and wallet before you leave the dock. Ask where you should store it below.

Don't block the helmsman's view of the jib. Pay attention to what's happening on the water and in the boat; leave your ipod ashore. Don't dsitract others.

[PaulinVictoria]

Hmm, kit is where I'm severely lacking. Got a pair of trainers which are non-slip as long as the deck is dry and covered in non-slip coatings (looks like I'll be swimming!). Can manage sunglasses and sunscreen plus a thin but warm fleece. Think I have some waterproof trousers somewhere that might be worth popping on/in. The skipper is lending me some stuff for the day such as gloves and a PFD.
Thanks for all the advice so far, I'm hoping it won't all be quite so daunting as I'm imagining, fingers crossed the wind isn't too crazy and that they aren't *too* serious about it all.

[ste27]

Just relax and have fun - usually when we have complete newbies we start out by giving them a very short list of dos and don'ts and then begin the sailing by basically just sailing the boat around them, pointing out stuff and explaining as we go. Then depending on how comfortable things seem they get a small job or maybe just chill out for the whole race and enjoy the ride and get more involved next time. Sometimes they're foredecking or trimming the spinnaker for a bit by the end of the day, sometimes they're handing out the beer.

If you're talking to the guy next to you on the rail, keep your voice down - if you're doing windward/leeward (straight up, straight back down) racing then as a new guy you'll never know when the "critical" moments are. If it's a rounding different buoys type race then things will be a little more relaxed. Don't stand up, you'll be off balance and blocking somebody (who may or may not be important) from having a good view of the sails and course.

Just have fun really - racers seem to get a bit of a bad rap around here sometimes. We're really just cruisers to nowhere trying to get there as fast as possible!

[jackdale]

In which Victoria are you?

Jack