Koosah has not missed a race for two years in a row and is well on the way to make it three! I asked Dave how he manages to do it. He told me the secret is plenty of crew. I’ve been told that Dave has missed a race or two, but not the boat. So how does he recruit and keep crew?
The past three racing seasons Koosah has hosted over 100 guests who served as crew. Some boarded only once, as an out-of-town friend who showed up on a race day, and others were Boy Scouts working on their sailing merit badge. As skipper, my goal is to ensure that all have an enjoyable and educational experience, and they feel welcome to return when their schedule permits. Below are some of the guidelines we use to have more fun!
Make a commitment. Let the crew know what races you will do one year in advance. This helps everybody’s schedule. Don’t hold the crew to sailing every race however. Each has their own schedule, and with a large group wanting to crew, there always seem to be enough.
Have each guest sign in the log book the first time on the boat. You now have a telephone number to return items left on the boat or if you need crew another time.
Rotate positions. Every member has an opportunity to helm, be a grinder, manage the main and master the foredeck. Keep track of who does helm so the ‘regular’ crew gets equal time at the wheel!
Food, drink & warmth. Have plenty of food and snacks, lots of drinks, and a warm place to get out of the weather. (The crew said they were buying a new heater for Koosah!)
Call, call, call. Call each member a week before the race to finalize schedules. Be prepared at the last minute for cancellations as well as added guests!
A private storage area for each guest. A place to store personal belongings. We use the pilot berth on each side of Koosah and install the plywood leeboards to prevent ‘stuff’ from falling out.
Safety. Enough lifejackets and strobe lights for all. Koosah sometimes races with ten or eleven, so coordination with the other boat owning crew members is necessary. Review the man overboard procedures and show all where the fire extinguishers, first aid kits, horns, flares, radio and flashlights are located.
Comfort. Make sure the new crew knows how to operate the head. Also it is not necessary to remain outside in the rain the entire race — get inside and get fed and warm! I send them down if they even look cold!
Camera. Take pictures! Give each guest a copy. When there is a picture of everyone on the rail, I make a 5”X7” enlargement, mount it on a colorful paper and put Koosah at the top. Below the photo is the name and date of the race and how we placed, and the crew listed with their duty.
Follow up. As soon as you know, let the crew know how we did! Also let them know when you ‘got something fixed’, so they know the boat is read for the next race.
Welcome everyone. Refuse no guest. There is always room for one more. Be sure to assign and explain the crew duty to the new person. We have a ‘crew book’ which describes most of the duties for each person for different maneuvers. There are extra copies in case they want to take it home to study.
Assign a tutor. Use some of the ‘regular crew’ to teach and monitor what the new person does. This reinforces the tutor’s knowledge and also lets the new person know how it is done. If conditions permit, have the tutor review the loran, GPS, current tables, charts, and VHF radio with the new crew.
Advice is Encouraged. Listen to Koosah when racing. You will hear six to ten people providing advice to the helm. The key, of course, is to pick the best for the situation (If you know that key, please come sail with us!). The advice that is given on the boat stays on the boat! Take it in stride and don’t feel insulted. Competition is pressure. Sailing is fun!
Dave Knowlton, Koosah