Though he’s the crew boss and watch captain of 100ft Maxi yacht Scallywag in his personal proper, Pete Cumming is at all times desirous to be taught from the very best. After working as a driver/trimmer on board Volvo 70 Tschüss 2’s line honours victory within the Transatlantic Race 2025 in June, he was impressed by the calm management of watch captains Neal McDonald and Stu Bannatyne.
“Neal and Stu are actually good at ensuring everybody on the boat is related with the decision-making course of, which retains everybody motivated and all pushing in direction of the identical goal. Which could appear actually apparent, however I’ve been on loads of boats the place the entrance finish of the boat has no concept what the folks on the again are pondering.
“The second Neal or Stu come off watch, they’re checking in with the navigator, Campbell Subject, simply getting an summary of what’s happening earlier than they fall asleep. Are there going to be any sails challenges developing within the subsequent 4 hours whereas they’re off?”
Carried out proper, the watch captain spans many roles, from co-ordinating the boat dealing with up on deck to creating certain everyone on their watch is bodily and mentally in a position to work to their greatest inside a demanding and possibly even generally hostile working setting.
Listed here are Pete’s 5 key ideas for being the very best watch captain you might be.
Staying within the loop
I believe it was Brad Butterworth who stated that when a workforce breaks down, lunatics begin operating the asylum.
When there’s no communication by the boat, and possibly a scarcity of belief, you get in conditions when the crew out of the blue resolve they’re going to name the gybe as a result of the navigator’s asleep and also you don’t need to disturb him. With the seasoned execs this lack of comms is rarely allowed to occur.
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It’s the watch captain’s job to ensure the chain of communication is at all times working easily. Splinter teams develop on boats on a regular basis, however for those who can work with the navigator and the blokes on deck so that everybody’s acquired buy-in to the technique and the decision-making course of, it makes the world of distinction to the ambiance on board, and in the end to the workforce’s efficiency.
Earn respect
To be an efficient watch captain you’ve acquired to earn the respect of the folks round you, and that usually solely comes with expertise, a way of competence and a great deal of self-confidence with out conceitedness.If somebody questions you, you’ve acquired to have the ability to deal with that and never look weak along with your decision-making. Typically there might be massive egos on board and you’ve got to have the ability to stand your floor. You additionally want to guide from the entrance and infrequently present the blokes that you just’re ready to get your arms soiled and do a tricky or disagreeable job your self.
That stated, it’s vital to decide on the fitting second. Don’t go down a rabbit gap of attempting to get one small job achieved if that takes your consideration away from the massive image. That’s your predominant job. In the end you’ve acquired to have good information of most areas on the boat, with out being an skilled at all the pieces, which is why watch captains are typically recruited from the center of the boat – a trimmer or somebody who’s labored within the pit space who’s related to the entrance and the again of the boat and understands the challenges of each ends.
Questions, not instructions
A superb watch captain empowers his workforce to make their very own selections, to run their very own a part of the boat as greatest they’ll. You could have to have the ability to ask questions of one another, to test in on one another and ask for ideas and concepts moderately than pretending that you just’ve acquired all of the solutions.
Stu and Neal are sensible on watch they usually may ask me: “Pedro, query for you: is the staysail over-trimmed? I’ll go away it with you.” It’s not an order, it’s a immediate. So I’ll go ahead and I’ll see if the staysail wants a little bit of an ease. They’re excellent at empowering each workforce member to make their very own selections.
Preserve it enjoyable
Typically you possibly can overlook why you’re on the market. We do that as a result of it’s enjoyable, and it must be enjoyable for all of the crew. You is likely to be able to extracting the very best efficiency on the earth, however for those who’re a depressing bugger you possibly can shut that watch down fairly shortly. It reaches some extent the place everybody simply counts down the minutes till they’ll go off watch.
Don’t be that individual. Preserve it enjoyable, keep an open dialogue the place everybody feels snug speaking to everybody else and having fun with one another’s firm.
Have a quiet phrase
If there’s a nasty ambiance, as a watch captain you have to get to the foundation of the issue shortly. If somebody is taking part in up or not becoming in with the workforce for no matter purpose, the worst factor you are able to do is try to disgrace that individual in entrance of the crew. It’s not at all times simple to discover a place on board to have a quiet phrase with them, however that’s the way in which to method it.
Discover your second to listen to what they’ve acquired to say, as a result of generally the explanation for the upset might be fully totally different to what you may need imagined. Most individuals will recognize the actual fact you’ve tackled the issue head on.
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