TY Delegates Report
I
am going to cut to the chase. You have only one week to get ready for the start
of the season, and, if you have not been doing your groundwork over the winter
break you will need to get cracking.
I
am not very good at last minute preparation or making decisions on the hop. So I
organise (very liberal and generous use of the term organise) my preparation
into two separate categories, Psycho-social Preparedness, and Physical Preparedness.
Psycho-social preparedness is broken into 2 subcategories, the logic of which
will become clearer in the explanation provided below.
Psycho-social
Preparedness.
1.
The Boss
This is arguably the most important area of
preparedness. Assuming that this area has been completely addressed and signed
off could be your downfall. This is an area where a never ending attention to
detail is critical and where mediocre performance is not acceptable. There is no known formula for insuring
success however there is one important principle that must be addressed. I call
it the “Brownie Point principle” Most of you will be familiar with this
principle, where good deeds must be
built up on your side of the equation before considerations can be legitimately
negotiated with the Bosses side of the equation. This can be a very tricky area good deeds have
in most cases different brownie point values to
negotiating parties. The value can change over time too. You must do you home
work to ensure you can achieve (nominally) the best reward for effort ratio but
keep in mind that there are no guarantees. Some suggested examples of good deeds
that may attract brownie points are:
a.
Bring home a
case of the Bosses favourite Chardonna/Beer/Whisky etc.
b.
Where the
pants/cardigan that the Boss bought for you that they thing suit you but you do
not like. Tell them they feel comfortable.
c.
Agree to have
dinner with the in-laws, and sound excited about it.
d.
Do the washing
up/tiding up without being reminded to do so.
e.
Say you will
mind the kids/grandkids/dogs to give them free time o their own or with their
friends.
f.
Do some
gardening/weeding without being asked (remember to confirm what should be
pulled out and what should be left in)
Alternatively
you could go the opposite way and make yourself a nuisance around them to the point
where your absence for the day or longer will be welcomed by them. If you are
lucky they may even suggest you should go sailing. Some examples are, reading over their
shoulder aloud, chatting to them while they are trying to have a private moment
in the bathroom, asking questions about the television program they are trying
to watch, suggesting you would like to trim/weed trees and garden. I am sure you could think of many other
examples.
Warning, this is a very high risk strategy and can have a high
likelihood of backfiring with often unknown consequences. There are some horror
stories attached to this type strategy that are too ugly to describe, so if you
chose this action I emphasise, be very very careful
of how it is executed.
Important Note: as mentioned there are no guaranteed results. You
will have to do you home work to determine which ones are important to the Boss
and how many times or how long a deed needs to be performed to give it brownie
point value.
2.
The Crew
Most of us need crew and from my experience it always
makes for a better sailing experience if you like and get along with them. You
should have laid some winter groundwork cultivating you network of friends,
phoning them up to see how they are and how there family members are going.
Inviting them on outings or for meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner etc) is
supposed to build stronger relationships.
Make sure you find out who their boss is and include them in these
events, and being nice to them.
Remember if you are talking to them it is helpful to sound genuinely
interested in their lives. Practicing this technique beforehand may help. For some strange reason I have found that
crew members often believe they have more pressing demands than your crewing
needs. I have found that giving crew
plenty of warning about sailing events, especially away events helps to ensure
there availability.
If you are related to your prospective crew the
strategies above may not be effective. This is an area where I have no
expertise. You will have to find other ways of ingratiating yourself with them
to achieve the target outcome of reliable crew with a happy hart.
Physical Preparedness:
This
area does not usually require as much effort or diligence, however having a
planned and coordinated approach is essential. Starting from the bottom I offer
the following less than comprehensive checklist.
1.
Boat Trailer
a.
Does the trailer
still have wheels? if yes,
b.
Do the wheels go
round without accompanying bearing grinding sounds?
c.
Do the tires
have sufficient air?
d.
Do the breaks
work?
e.
Is the trailer structurally
sound. (For example are there structural components that are visible rusted
through yet)?
f.
Is the spare
tire attached and does it have air in it?
g.
Do the lights
work?
h. Does the trailer winch work?
i.
Is the boat on
the trailer and is it tied down?
2.
Boat:
a.
Are the sails
back on board (spinnaker included)?
b.
Is the rudder
blade on board?
c.
Is the mast
attached?
d.
Is the boom and
spinnaker pole back on board?
e.
Has the source
of the overpowering odour down below been located and removed?
f.
Are all the
sheets and control lines back on board?
g.
Is the safety
equipment back on board and, where required, near enough in date.
h. Does the outboard motor go?
i.
Is their fuel
for the outboard and is it on board?
j.
Are their racing
snakes on board (long story but makes us go faster)?
k.
Does the
centreboard go up and down?
l.
Do all the
blocks, pullies, cleats an sheaves run ( including
those on the mast?
m. Is the anchor on board and is it tide on at the
bitter end?
n. Are there buffers and mooring lines aboard?
I
am sure you can think of other important items, so feel free to add them to
your list.
Some other important sailing events to put in your
diaries and start planning for.
|
Event |
Date |
Location |
Club |
|
|
6 - 7 November 2010 |
Jervis Bay NSW |
|
|
Lord Mayors Cup |
20 – 21 November 2010 |
NSW |
|
|
ACT Regatta |
4 - 5 December 2010 |
ACT |
|
|
St Georges Basin Regatta |
5 - 6 February 2011 |
St Georges Basin NSW |
St Georges Basin and
Sussex Inlet Yacht Club |
|
Bay to Bay T Y Race |
1 - 2 May 2011 |
Great |
|
|
TY Nationals |
24 – 26 April 2011 |
|
|
|
Wintersun |
25 – 26 June 2011 |
|
Royal |
So stop mucking around and get focused.
Show us what you are made of, make a plan and get organised to be on the water
for the first race of the season. You will not regret it.
Trevor.