·
physically fit and strong. During
maneuvers, everybody, except the
helmsman is involved in grinding or tailing
·
fluent in English
·
highly dedicated and professional attitude to
be able to endure hours of gym, late nights servicing boats, and thousands of
hours of testing and training on the boat
·
must be able to work within a team
environment, show initiative, awareness and responsibility
·
must have plenty of courage and be able to
perform under pressure (big match temperament)
The following skills are an advantage:
·
mechanical skills to service winches and
other fittings
·
knowledge of hydraulics
·
high level of rigging knowledge
·
sail making
One
of the aims of the SA Challenge is to develop sailing amongst the previously
disadvantaged of South Africa. Persons of colour who lack sailing experience,
but feel that they have the required mental and physical attributes are invited
to apply for training at MSCfoundation@izivungu.co.za
BOWMAN
The
Bowman has to be the most agile crew member.
Aerobically fit, brave and no fear of heights. He will be the man to go aloft in time of necessity. He must have a good understanding of match
racing rules because he will be in direct contact with the helmsman and
tactician via radio contact with regards to tactical situations. He must be a good judge of time and distance
for the starting procedure and the overlapping of boats coming into racing
marks. His primary jobs are to set the
spinnaker and organise the dropping of the spinnaker, set the genoa and pull
the genoa down and re-bag it on the runs.
MID-BOW
Arguably
the worst job on the boat, because after helping the bowman work getting the
spinnaker and the genoa up and down, he has to go below on the upwind legs to
pack the spinnaker, which takes about 20 minutes in the bilge of the boat which
we refer to as the “sewer”. It is jet
black down there due to the complete carbon structure of the boat. There are no lights and no lighting with the
hatches closed to try and keep out the water.
There are many leaks through the deck where the sail handling systems
are led below. Water is continually
pouring down, hence the name “the sewer”.
MASTMAN
The
mastman needs to be tall, strong and aerobically fit. His main responsibility is pulling the jib and the spinnaker to
the top of the 34m mast. As well as
having a good working knowledge of the bow as he completes that 3 man team for
the sail handling procedures. All of
these 3 bow team will rotate onto the winch grinders during the course of the
race.
PORT AND STARBOARD
GRINDERS
These
are the real powerhouse of the yacht.
These guys would typically be 105kg’s, very strong, yet still very
aerobically fit. Their main job is, as
the name applies, is to grind the primary winches which pull the sails in and
out during tacking and jibing manouevres.
As well as their strength, they have to be smart and co-ordinated. They will select, out of any combination of
the four grinder pedestals, which can operate any one of five grinder driven
winches and they will have to alternate quickly between winches where the power
needs to be delivered. They will also
help the trimmers load and unload sheets and guys onto their primary winches
during jibing manouevres and setting the spinnakers. So if they don’t have nimble fingers, they will loose them.
UPWIND TRIMMER
The
upwind trimmer will be responsible for first helping the sail selection process
for the correct headsail. He is then
responsible for the trimming of it.
Must be aerobicically fit due to the amount of jib sheet he will be
required to pull in every tack and there could be up to 40 tacks on a
beat. The trimmer will need a full
understanding of the design of a jib and what we are trying to achieve from
it’s aerodynamic foil shape for maximum performance upwind. On the downwind leg he will assist the
downwind trimmer by operating the guy which controls the spinnaker pole. He must have a full understanding of sail
design and shape.
DOWNWIND TRIMMER
Similar
aerobic fitness and strength as the upwind trimmer. However, has to tail even more sheet when jibing the
spinnaker. Meters and meters being thrown
at him by six grinders turning one winch as fast as possible. He is also responsible for the selection of
the correct spinnaker for the downwind leg and trims it in and out continuously
for maximum performance. In full communication with the helmsman with regards
to the boat speed and the true wind angle.
He must have a full understanding of spinnaker design and flying shape
so as to understand what we are trying to achieve.
PITMAN
Often
referred to as the “piano player” he is hands on orchestrating the hoisting and
lowering of sails. Also a co-ordinator
between the bow team of three, the rest of the crew in the cockpit and the
afterguard. Sometimes referred to as
the “crew boss” or “crew co-ordinator” he is the pivotal point of most
maneaouvres and can make or break them.
A good understanding of match racing rules is a necessity so that he can
pre-empt the maneouvre. Strong and fit,
tailing halyards all day long.
MID-GRINDER
As the
name implies, he is on the grinder pedestal in the middle of the boat, which is
also adjacent to the hydraulic panel.
This has ten functions primarily changing the shape of the
mainsail. He almost becomes a main sail
trimmer, however, always under the jurisdiction of the principal main sail
trimmer. He will also be responsible
for the maintenance and the repair of the hydraulics in an emergency during a
race, so must have a full understanding of the hydraulic equipment.
MAIN SAIL TRAVELER
Again,
he is a mainsail trimmer in his own right and will pre-empt the main trimmers
requirements and so work very closely as a team. This job, although important, is adjusted less frequently and
this person will probably be part of the strategic team having time to look up
the course for wind shifts and varying wind pressure. He is nice and close to the afterguard so they can communicate in
low voices.
AFT GRINDER
Although
this person’s primary job will be winding the winch, the same as the others, he
is another person in the tactical loop, having time to look around and give
input to the tactician. Also in light
airs when there is not the demand for so much grinding power, he will be the
person to go aloft to continue with his strategic role, with radio
communication to the tactician and when he is aloft in light airs will also
kick through the main sail battens after a jibe or a tack so they do not stay
inverted and upset the aero dynamic flow of the main sail. In a light air jibe will guide the gennaker
around the jumper struts so it does not tear.
RUNNER/SECOND PIT
Upwind
responsible for winding the runner up to a maximum load of fifteen tons. So in a tacking dual a very physical
job. Ready to ease the runner during
decreasing wind periods to help change the aero dynamic shape of the genoa to
keep the boat speed at maximum. This
call will ultimately come from the upwind trimmer, however, hopefully will be
done in co-ordination with his thoughts.
For mark roundings, he will leave his position on the runner, hand it
over to the tactician as he goes forward to drop the genoa at the upwind mark
and drop the spinnaker at the downwind mark.
Because of this, sailors variety of jobs must have a very good
understanding of the sail handling maneouvres and the boat dynamics.
HELMSMAN
The
helmsman, who is sometimes the skipper but not necessarily, is of course
responsible for steering the boat. We
try to keep this as a dedicated job of steering and completely relying on the
tactician for where to go and when to tack and jibe. This is a very numerical job, besides relying on obviously high
level sailing ability. Most of the
commands will be in pure numerical form from the tactician and navigator with
regards to target speeds, true and apparent wind angles etc, etc. Full concentration required for the full
duration. Very mentally tiring.
NAVIGATOR
The
numerical brains department. Having a
full working knowledge of computers and computer systems, he will be
responsible for all the numerical data, distance to lay lines, times to lay
lines, where we are on the course, what target boat speed we should be hitting,
numerical input into the sail selection process and judging time and distance
of the other boat. Also responsible for
the starting sequence and starting procedure, the timing of the entry and of
course, a huge input into the tactical scenario.
TACTICIAN
The
brains of the boat and will ultimately have the biggest effect on the outcome
of the race. Responsible, but with the
input from all those mentioned above, to decide how we start, where we start,
then which direction to go up the race course with consideration to the other
boat and when in close quarters, making the split second decisions with regards
to the boat on boat combat. Very much
in charge of and in control of the boat.
Will have to be very quick thinking and cool headed and thrive on
pressure.
STRATEGIAN
This is
the extra crew member from the last America’s Cup, will probably join the
afterguard brains trust and take the port runner opposite the pit runner man on
starboard. A nice extra set of eyes to
look up the track and help with the overall strategy of the race.
18TH MAN
This is
a non participating person on the boat who will historically be the owner,
owner’s friend or major sponsor. Racing
on the yacht to enjoy the experience and hopefully get his money worth.