Essential Reasoning for Equal Distribution of Tasks on Ships - Above and Beneath the Decks Included
In the early days of his sailing career, the author learned a valuable lesson: never serve meatballs in a blow. This was a metaphor for the importance of being prepared and adaptable, a lesson that would prove crucial in the world of offshore sailing.
At 18, fresh out of school and very green, the author found himself on a 78ft maxi, sailing between Sicily and Gibraltar. The boat slopped about in irons, and the broken checkstay swung and clanged against the rig. In such challenging conditions, the crew's roles became clearly defined. The more experienced sailors took to the deck, while the less experienced found themselves confined to the galley.
This phenomenon is not uncommon in offshore sailing. It is not limited to couples, but also occurs with friends, families, and professional teams. Initially, everyone is happy when the more experienced person ends up on deck and the less experienced ends up inside cooking, cleaning, and organizing. However, as the days turned into weeks, the author noticed a troubling trend.
The crew's comfort zone deepened, and they scolded the captain for interfering if something was put away in the wrong place. Without realizing it, they flatlined in skill and confidence. The gap between the captain and the crew widened over time. This state of affairs could have serious consequences, as the author would soon discover.
During an emergency, people were scrambling into foulies. The author, still the least experienced crew member, was standing frozen, assessing the carnage with a can opener in hand. The more experienced sailors were busy above deck, leaving the less experienced to fend for themselves.
The potential consequences of this role allocation are far-reaching. Reduced overall crew skill development is one such consequence. Less experienced crew members assigned only galley tasks miss opportunities to learn sailing, navigation, and emergency skills, limiting their growth and confidence over time.
Decreased crew confidence and initiative is another consequence. Restricted to 'inside' roles, less experienced sailors may lose confidence in their abilities, leading to reluctance to challenge decisions or take initiative, which can hinder the captain's and crew’s development.
The creation of dependency and skill bottlenecks is another potential consequence. The experienced crew becomes the sole decision-makers and operators above deck, potentially resulting in a single point of failure if they are incapacitated or overwhelmed in challenging conditions.
Reduced crew cohesion and communication issues can also arise. Physical and role segregation between deck and galley can cause a divide in the crew, undermining teamwork and effective communication crucial during offshore emergencies.
Long-term safety risks are perhaps the most concerning consequence. If all sailing and critical operational knowledge remains with a few experienced members, the crew’s ability to respond efficiently to emergencies diminishes, increasing risks on offshore passages.
In summary, confining less experienced crew to galley duties while keeping experienced crew on deck can initially feel efficient but often harms crew confidence, skill-sharing, and safety over the long term in offshore sailing. A balanced role-sharing approach is recommended to ensure all crew members build competence and contribute both above and below decks.
Sharing responsibilities and making decisions collaboratively can help build a proper team. Rotating galley jobs can help build confidence in both directions. The author learned this lesson the hard way, but he hopes his experience can serve as a cautionary tale for future sailors. Offshore sailing is a team sport, and everyone must play their part to ensure a successful voyage.
In the context of offshore sailing, confining less experienced crew to galley duties while keeping experienced crew on deck can limit their growth and confidence over time, restricting the development of crucial sailing, navigation, and emergency skills. This long-standing practice can lead to reduced crew cohesion, communication issues, and potentially dangerous dependency on a few experienced members, posing significant long-term safety risks. A balanced role-sharing approach, where everyone plays a part above and below decks, is essential to ensure a successful voyage, promoting teamwork and collective decision-making in offshore sailing, which is a team sport by nature.
