Thursday, May 26, 2011
The last time I met a new race crew was for Antigua Race Week. The skipper introduced himself as Melville. My heart sank, it was generally known that Melville had lost his marbles.
"This is the mate, Fag Break."
Said the Skipper.
I turned to the strapping youth at his side. He looked up at me with a wan face and bloodshot eyes and speaking carefully said,
" I was up until four, drinking, I intend to stay drunk the whole week. Please don't call me Fag Break, I hate it."
I turned to the old lady sitting in the cockpit.
"Hello sonny," she said, " We are going to win everything this week."
I don't think so.
" This is my grandson."
" I have never sailed before."
Announced the frail looking youth sitting next to her.
I was a little disconcerted. The yacht was 65 feet and the weight of her sails, built to last a lifetime, well, several lifetimes really, was legendary. I was expecting a crew of 12, and we were about to leave the dock. Just then a taxi drew up and a handsome couple emerged. Long blonde hair, black tee shirts, sprayed on black jeans and designer sunnies. He said;
" Captain Melville ? We are from Germany. We are on our hone
ymoon. Please pay off the taxi and have our bags carried to our suite."
I knew this was going to be a memorable week. When reality dawned she burst into tears and he went ballistic.
I then chose Sailing Logic for the Rolex Fastnet Race!
My heart understandably thudded a little faster as I climbed the steps of the Southampton Yacht Club to meet the skipper and crew.
I need not have worried. I had chosen Sailing Logic after careful deliberation and I reckoned they are the best. I particularly like the bit about maintaing a sense of humour !
A brand new Yacht !
Our Skipper is a real pro and I loved his comment he didn't like to much shouting. He might not like being referred to as Captain Jack O' Sparrer but I do know he likes a roast dinner. And apparently he sleeps with his eyes open.
Our mate, Gareth would be welcome on any professional race yacht and I expect to learn an awful lot from him. The rest of the crew have all signed up for the same reason as me, in a nutshell we are all highly competitive and we all want to do well.
TEAMWORK
The Fastnet programme is seriously hard and should test us all to the limit. If you are not knackered at the end of a race frankly you have not being trying hard enough. We will be racing in troubled waters against crews who have sailed together for many years, some crews have even sailed around the world together. It is not enough just to turn up on the day, that is why we have a series of races to come together as a crew. Rome was not built in a day. Milton Keynes may well have been.
Michael Owen, legendary England Footballer said yesterday in the context of winning or losing he didnt really care about the result ' I want to be the best I can.'
I think that is a very realistic approach, in sport luck has an important part to play and all we can really do is do our best.
But that is not enough. We must look after each other, care for each other, work for each other and make life as easy as possible for Jacko and Gareth to lead us.
It is important our minds are in the right place, personally I never think directly of winning or losing during a race, I concentrate on using our skills to make the boat go fast, doing my best and playing my part in the team.
I have met sailors who have never been in a team, its a simple enough concept, put everyone in a position where they can do their best. Lewis Hamilton is nothing without the car and the team behind him. In Rugby when a player scores he should thank the team around him because it was a combined effort. The Heineken Cup Final last weekend was a famously hard fought battle and one of the differences between winning and losing was a crafty shirt tugs off the ball as one player created an opening for another.
I am proud to have the chance to sail with all of you. Lets make sure at the end of our campaign we are all firm friends !
