Pick a job, any job

by Lydia Mullan, SAIL magazine
I’ve been racing aboard a new boat this summer, and it’s gotten me thinking a lot about crew dynamics and what makes a good teammate. Truth be told, I’ve sailed with a lot of great people over the years, but it’s hard to pin down exactly what makes someone great to sail with.

I have loved sailing with people who were chill as much those who were as high energy, quiet or chatty, experts or beginners, racers or cruisers. However, when it comes to the best, I think they all have two things in common: being proactive about taking care of the boat and thoughtful about taking care of each other.

Back during the Volvo Ocean Race days, there was a video posted of Nick Dana talking about bailing a VO65. It’s a tongue-in-cheek explainer on his master technique for scooping water, but it stayed with me because, intentionally or not, he buried two salient pieces of advice in it. – Full report