52 replies to this topic

[rgscpat]

What's the most important trait for a sailor?
Choose one of these or add your own thoughts.

Agility
Stamina
Adaptability
Perceptiveness
Alcohol Immunity/Resistance


Detail...


Agility – The ability to move and work on the boat without being a menace to one’s self and fellow crew; balance, nimbleness; kinesthetic sense for one’s body, the boat, wind, and waves

Stamina – ability to hike out or stay strong in an extended tacking duel, or to stay sharp after weeks of short-handed watches on an ocean crossing; adaptation to the movement of the boat in all sorts of conditions, ability to retain judgment and react quickly and well after enduring grueling conditions

Adaptability – able to learn quickly, follow orders intelligently, improvise in a crisis, stay organized and focused in a strange environment, react creatively and appropriately, make the best use of the talents and strengths of other crew

Perceptiveness – ability to sense dangers and changes in the environment, see what is important, prioritize what needs to be paid attention to, make good judgments, estimate boat crossings and find lanes and lay lines, detect bullshit, “head out of the boat” ability, readiness for what comes next

Immunity to alcohol – resistant to alcohol poisoning, able to get to the boat on time and without a hangover after a wild night at the regatta tent

Other ??

Other possibilities:
Strength
Spatial orientation, sense of direction
Forehandedness, appropriate caution, preparedness, ability to anticipate what will be needed
Specific skills; crew position skills, first aid and safety skills, galley/cooking skills, boat repair and improvisation, sail making, sail trim, navigation, IRPCAS and RRS rules knowledge, marine systems, boat surveying, rigging, hull repair, electronics, etc.
Bureaucracy navigation – ability to grease paperwork and charm officialdom

[casc27]

You left out the most important option: fiscal irresponsibility.

[Sheethead]

Not sure about immunity to alcohol... Resilient, yes, immune... that's downright boring...

Lot of the rest are skills not traits, imo... would a nice rack be a trait? I thinks so! (voting for that!)

[dreaded]

cash and a willingness to spend and share on booze , broads, & blow...

[Scarecrow]

being ambidextrous.

Try telling an archer to swap hands after each shot.

[some dude]

ability/willingness to show up every weekend

[walterbshaffer]

foresight

[Left Hook]

Adaptability & Perceptiveness hands down. The ability to get through the mental backflips involved with the constantly changing, dynamic, unpredictable nature of our sport while also being able to out-think the other guy you're trying to get in front of. Additionally having feel and the ability to be incredibly perceptive of many different yet equally important variables and how they change instantaneously feeds into the decision making process.

Stamina, Agility and even Alcohol Tolerance can be worked on and improved. The ability to think quick, that's harder.

[Trickypig]

Hindsight. You need this for the `talk it up cup' at the bar after the race.

[Timbo]

Adaptability & Perceptiveness hands down. The ability to get through the mental backflips involved with the constantly changing, dynamic, unpredictable nature of our sport while also being able to out-think the other guy you're trying to get in front of. Additionally having feel and the ability to be incredibly perceptive of many different yet equally important variables and how they change instantaneously feeds into the decision making process.

Stamina, Agility and even Alcohol Tolerance can be worked on and improved. The ability to think quick, that's harder.

+1

[mcsailor0303]

I think 'Commitment' would be a good one...

[Winever]

I think having a short memory is important......just can't remember why.

Cheers, Win ever.

[Bump-n-Grind]

+1 for nice rack.

[Par Avion]

Big balls would be a good one.

Sorry man, this poll sucks and has no point. What kind of sailor: A kid in an opti? Bowman on the VOR? Uncle Jimmy cruising the Virgin Islands?

[Punani Jackson]

SMOOTH balls would be a good one.

[A Florida Redneck]

Ability to exaggerate...

[LDH]

Being mindful of how your behaviour is impacting others! (encouraging/p!ssing off/calming - whatever it may be)
+ as mentioned above, ability to drink for Australia (or whichever country you are from) and a very short term memory.

[SailRacer]

Trust
Faith

[Left Hook]

Big balls would be a good one.

Sorry man, this poll sucks and has no point. What kind of sailor: A kid in an opti? Bowman on the VOR? Uncle Jimmy cruising the Virgin Islands?

those traits are universal and span the sport. Apply from Optis up to classics or maxis.

[Somebody Else]

The most important trait?

Being fall-on-your-face drunk, yet still managing to not offend the commodore's wife.

Extra points if you manage to sleep with the commodore's wife/daughter/mistress/whatever...

[SailorTim]

Trust
Faith

Too right. Trust the boat. Trust the others on board. Trust yourself. It all works out after that.

['No.6]

Insight. Having a good sense of how circumstances will play out is key to both good seamanship and success in racing.
Feel. All the training and looking at guages can't replace feel.
Reaction. Without the ability to quickly react to changing sea state or wind conditions is the difference between being in control or being tossed about.

[egon]

Willingness to learn. And never stop.

[bluelaser2]

You left out the most important option: fiscal irresponsibility.

The very first comment ; MONEY BABY

[Life Buoy 15]

The ability to withstand the temptation to start pointless and borderline gay polls on internet forums.

[By the lee]

All those choices don't mean sheeeeit if'n the candidate gets sea-sick.

[Leka]

Reliability.
You have to turn up for races, all the above does not matter if your not on the boat.
(With the exception of LB's point)

[Left Hook]

Throw this one in the "huge, brass, floor dragging balls" category; diving under your boat, alone in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, to free a stuck fishing net after all other attempts to free it have failed.

[GnarlyItWas]

Is perceptiveness even a real word ??

[167149]

born kiwi......

[3LeggedDog]

Agree w/ all, but avi & lee are most poignant.....different situations require different attributes, and immunity to seasickness (again, situation-dependent) is high on the list. If you're in your bunk with a bucket close-by, skills are moot.

[SPORTSCAR]

Humility

[jimbot]

Patience.

['No.6]

All those choices don't mean sheeeeit if'n the candidate gets sea-sick.

I don't suffer but have great sympathy for those that do. Must really suck.
I remember reading a piece about the USSR sailing team, think it was about olympic sailors, where they would only pick candidates that got seasick to try out for their olympic team. Theory was that those who suffer mal de mar were more sensitive to boat motion and thus had a better feel for what makes a boat go fast. I thought it was a rather interesting perspective.

[imakebadjokes]

The ability to have a conversation on SA with multiple sock puppets.

[Snaggletooth]

The ability to have a conversation on SA with multiple sock puppets.

???? helps howe ????

[Left Hook]

The ability to have a conversation on SA with multiple sock puppets.

???? helps howe ????

Between the recent Shooting Star and Moondance triumphs in the competition for the Windigo trophy there seems to be strong correlation between sock puppet abuse and distance racing victory.

Perhaps because it gives you someone to talk to while at the helm on those long early morning watches.

['No.6]

Helps to have a different one for each trophy.

[Maxx Baqustae]

Preparation and concentration. The right preparation goes a long way so you "can" concentrate at the task at hand. Some of the brilliant racing mind I know are fully concentrating when sailing - always.

A little intuition helps too. Ergo: "I can really tell you why right now as I'm kinda busy but "tack". Now."

[Prospero]

Being able to sail might actually be somewhat of an advantage!

[Christian]

The most important trait?

Being fall-on-your-face drunk, yet still managing to not offend the commodore's wife.

Extra points if you manage to sleep with the commodore's wife/daughter/mistress/whatever...

Especially if you can do it at the same time - menage de quadre

[JohnMB]

The most important trait?

Being fall-on-your-face drunk, yet still managing to not offend the commodore's wife.

Extra points if you manage to sleep with the commodore's wife/daughter/mistress/whatever...

Especially if you can do it at the same time - menage de quadre

menage a cinq if you manage to do the whatever too.

[Snaggletooth]

The moore the meerriere!!!

[rgscpat]

When does the shirt get made for "Do the whatever!" ?

Heinlein forgot to put in the sailing competencies, but maybe on some boats changing a headsail in a snotty sea is analogous to changing a diaper:
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." — Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

[unShirley]

• Initiative. Seeing something needs to be done and doing it w/o waiting to be told or hoping somebody else will do it.
• focus
• generosity at the YC bar after the race
• female, 3' tall w/ a flathead and pistol grip ears, father owns a liquor store

[Trevor B]

"Strong like bull, smart like tractor."

[Folding prop]

The ability to cheat like hell and not get caught.

[judge]

I like to sail with people who are reliable, who have a sense of humour, and who don't take themselves too seriously.

Previous America's Cup/Volvo Race experience and/or big tits are a desirable extra.

[Ultraman]

• female, 3' tall w/ a flathead and pistol grip ears, father owns a liquor store

LOL!

[PDG]

Dunno where it might fit in, but the ability to self-direct should be in there somewhere. Someone who, when things have gone pear shaped, is standing around waiting for someone to tell them what to do, is not very useful.

[F15 AUS]

Three things needed for a skiff bowman.

Can lift boat by himself
Dosnt flinch when hit in the nuts by a brick
Always answers to Fuck.

[PATSYQPATSY]

Buoyancy?

[dog of war]

A good insurance policy?