Jumpstart your sailboat racing season

by David Flynn, SpinSheet magazine
As you read this, you are already probably behind the curve in terms of getting ready for next racing season. Like many other sports what you do in the off season is critical to how well you do in the next.

No matter what your sailing goals and expectations—getting out for weekday beer can races or winning a world championship—you need planning and preparation if you are going to be successful.

At all levels here are some common themes that all happy and successful teams share.

Put your team together
It is all about the team. For professional or quasi-professional programs, it is simple. Find the best players you can afford and pay them. For the rest of us, it is a more subtle game. Of all the best amateur or mixed teams I have sailed on, there is a common denominator: respect and loyalty to the payer of the bills. The best make it easy and are a pleasure to sail with. They take good care of their team. Crew can count on a well-prepared boat with good equipment, good food, travel expenses, nice housing, and maybe even some cool gear.

Start with a team dinner in the off-season or some fun social event to get everyone together with plenty of time to talk about the upcoming season with no pressure. Most importantly, have fun and begin the bonding process. If you have sailed together previously, it is easy, but it is even more worth the effort if you are just starting out. This will also be a chance to get a sense of where you have solid players and where you will need to step up efforts to recruit. – Full report