Crew Duties: Tactician
Area of Responsibility:
Course decisions based on the weather and competitor’s maneuvers.
Expectations
Keep the helmsman up to date on competitor’s positions, race course marks, wind lines, obstacles and any pertinent information. Maintain a solid knowledge of race rules. Make suggestions to the crew regarding course changes, when to tack, and strategy.
Examples:
Race rules and strategy:
Tactician: “Conundrum just tacked off our starboard bow! Looks like we’ll have to duck him or tack eventually. Let’s tack now!”
Helm: “Prepare to come about….Coming about!”
Observations:
Tactician: “I see the B mark just off your port bow, turn left a few degrees and you’ll see it!”
Helm: “I got it!”
Strategy:
Tactician: “When we round the upwind mark we can choose a port or starboard spinnaker set downwind. The wind looks stronger on this side of the course, so lets plan for a port set, then gybe before we hit Coconut Island.”