First Overnight Race

[PCP]

Originally Posted by puddinlegs

Nauti,
It seems really odd to me that (and no offense intended here) with your level of experience that you're trimming main. .... Now back to main, again, it's odd that the skipper is having you trim main. It's perhaps THE most critical position on the boat. The best main trimmers have years of experience and have done most positions on the boat including driving. ... Someone new to the main will have the regular trimmer sitting right next to them explaining and teaching, and the new trimmer will not be asked to trim during a race or even cruising in heavier air.)
An inexperienced main trimmer in a race is not only slow, it's a liability in crossing situations as they're not likely to understand the physics involved in ducking a starboard tacker. From your description, it sound like you where on a beginner boat with a bunch that really don't have enough experience actually teaching and managing a crew. I've never heard of someone 'dismissed' from a boat in front of the entire crew... that's just poor people skills being mistaken for leadership and sure sign of the skipper's own insecurity.

I agree. It seems that you were not the only one with lack of experience.

[Dulcitea]

I am your age (okay, older , female and also not in the best physical condition of my life (that's an understatement, but hey, Dennis Connor doesn't have a six-pack either). My first serious race as an adult was on an all-female crew. I was on the foredeck. . . thank God because I couldn't hear half the yelling. That tactician had some mouth! I was clumsy, got the sheet wraped around my leg and almost went over. I "won" the tenderfoot award and wasn't asked to crew again.

Thank God! It was the best thing for me because I shifted gears. Like you I WANTED TO RACE. Instead of crewing bigger, expensive boats, I bought an old one-design and started with beer cans, one-design races and then nationals. Sure, I lost a lot at first, but no one was yelling! And it is a lot more fun being the skipper. You can learn a lot about racing on a dingy. I've got people fooled now. They actually think I'm good (sometimes). It sort of came full circle recently when a male boat owner asked me to skipper his all-male crew in an upcoming race. I will not yell. I will not yell! I WILL NOT YELL!!!

[sailingdog]

Excellent point Dulcitea. Good for you, and don't yell when you're the skipper.

[RXBOT]

I think Nauti was set up for a fall. Boat is at the dock, main down ,skipper leaning against boom with beer in hand. Someone tells her to adjust topping lift. You may want to raise boom end for overhead clearance but wouldn't person giving order call to skipper and inform her boom is to be adjusted. Why didn't this person adjust lift herself. Normaly boom would be positioned away from dockside to otherside so it is not over companionway.

If this is hot boat with hot skipper why are they taking on novices, shouldn't there be a veteran crew?

What kind of girls are they looking for?

[NautiGirlB]

I would hate to think that anyone would set someone up for that kind of fall.
It still holds true that I made a serious error, but I now know why and that I would never do it again. The harsh way it was handled has gone from stinging to making me a teeny tiny bit angry. Maybe it is better that it ended now instead of later.

I am still sad that I am not going but looking at the weather predictions it maybe a good thing. Hee hee! I don't know if there is enough depth of talent there to handle a possible gale. I know I don't have the experience.

Now I need to figure out if I should go and watch them all take off and feel bad or stay home and feel bad. Knowing me I will probably go and offer silent best wishes for a safe trip.

Thank you to all for the great ideas and offers of rides. I feel so much better now.

[sailingdog]

Glad to help NautiGirlB. I'm sure you'll find another boat to crew on shortly enough... or take the approach Dulcitea suggested...