Sailing tips that make the boat make sense
Good crew do more than complete individual jobs. They look outside the boat, notice what is changing and communicate early. These simple observations help you understand what the skipper is seeing, but they are learning aids rather than substitutes for keeping a proper lookout or following the collision regulations.
Use the land to see relative movement
When another boat is seen against a distant shoreline, notice where it sits in relation to a fixed landmark such as a headland, building or tree. Watch again after a short interval. If the other boat appears to move across the background, its bearing relative to you is changing. With practice, the direction and rate of that movement help you picture whether it is likely to pass ahead or astern.
If the other boat stays lined up with the same background feature while getting visibly larger, treat that as a warning of possible collision risk and tell the skipper immediately. A series of compass bearings is the standard check: little or no change in bearing indicates risk. Nearby land, your own turns, tide and perspective can mislead, so never rely on shoreline parallax alone or wait for certainty before speaking up.
Watch the water and the sails
Dark patches or textured water can show stronger breeze approaching, while flatter patches may show less wind. Point them out rather than silently assuming what they mean. On the boat, a lifting or flapping sail usually shows that its angle to the wind or trim needs attention; learn which control your skipper wants adjusted before touching it.
Look ahead as well as at the sails. Notice traffic, marks, shallow areas identified by the skipper and anything loose on deck. A useful lookout reports what they see with a direction and enough detail to find it, then keeps watching until acknowledged.
Prepare fenders and lines before they are needed
Ask which side the fenders are needed, how high they should hang and which lines the skipper wants ready. Keep lines tidy and free to run, but never wrap one around your hand or body. When coming alongside, use a fender to protect the boat; do not put a hand, foot or leg between the boat and the pontoon.
After leaving, bring fenders and lines in when asked so they cannot trail in the water or snag. Coil and stow them in the boat’s usual way. Different skippers and boats use slightly different routines, so confirm rather than guessing.
Think one job ahead and communicate
Listen to the plan before a manoeuvre and repeat back anything unclear. Position yourself where you can do the job without blocking the helm or another crew member. If a line jams, a fender is misplaced or you lose sight of another vessel, say so plainly and early.
Avoid trying to rescue a poor manoeuvre with strength. Boats carry momentum and loaded lines can cause serious injury. Pause or let go only as instructed, keep fingers away from pinch points and ask the skipper to explain unfamiliar equipment before it is under load.
Common questions
- How can I tell if another boat is on a collision course?
- Take repeated observations. If its compass bearing stays nearly constant while the distance closes, collision risk exists. A boat staying aligned with the same distant landmark can be a useful warning, but it is not a replacement for compass bearings, a proper lookout or the collision regulations.
- Can parallax tell me whether a boat will pass ahead or behind?
- Movement against a distant background helps you visualise relative motion. It can suggest the side on which a boat may pass, but perspective, tide and course changes can fool you. Use it as an observation to report to the skipper, not as the sole basis for avoiding action.
- What makes a beginner useful as crew?
- Looking out, listening to the plan, preparing early, keeping lines tidy and reporting uncertainty promptly are more valuable than pretending to know a job. Ask before operating unfamiliar equipment.