How can you truly assess experience?

by Nikki Henderson, Yachting World
I’m fresh back from Chicago, having spent a week coaching an offshore race team from deeply landlocked Denver. So before I take off my teaching hat, I have a quiz for you.

One sailor has done a Fastnet campaign, including all the qualifiers. Another was a watch leader on an Atlantic crossing. One has done no ocean sailing but owns a 40ft monohull and has spent the last 20 years cruising out of the Hamble. The fourth sailor just passed their Yachtmaster Offshore. They all have about 3,000 miles logged in total. Who is the most experienced sailor? Who rates highest on the seamanship scale?

It struck me in Chicago how sailing expertise – and even more critically seamanship – is extremely hard to quantify. We try to assess sailors using factors that are easy to count: miles, qualifications, years at sea. But do these actually give an accurate picture? – Full report