The value of rail meat

by Brendan Huffman, UK Sailmakers
A few years ago, I was invited to race on a fairly new, hot racing boat here in SoCal for a popular race.

The invitation was exciting–this was a fast boat with a mostly younger crew of rising stars. That is, until positions were assigned on the way to the starting line with me as the designated rail sitter.

It felt like second grade all over again, getting picked last for the recess kickball team. My ego was bruised. I had far more experience than most folks onboard but, aside from the owner, no one knew who I was. (I should also mention that I weighed more than the rest of the crew too, so there was that).

After a few minutes of asking myself why I had committed to ten miles of sitting on the rail, I changed my attitude. If I was going to be rail meat, I was determined to be the best rail meat ever. – Full report