Mission: sail the fastest legal path — and be the throttle. At this station Helm steers and trims the main upwind and downwind; heel and groove are the interface to everyone else’s work.
Duties
- Steer to the pointing and pressure targets the trimmers call — don’t invent sheet trim.
- Own the main from the helming seat: mainsheet, traveler, backstay; vang and outhaul presets live with Mast. Rudder and main talk to each other directly when one person holds both — no translation lag.
- Heavy-air levers: pump the main to bring the boat flat when the boom points skyward (documented O30 technique, Aliens); ease before the rudder is overwhelmed.
- Execute the start with the Tactician; the Bow calls the line.
- Bear away to the set only on “Ready” from the foredeck; hold the mode the kite trimmer asks for (foot vs pinch is a dialogue).
- Smooth, constant turn rates through tacks and gybes so Mast and Bow can work — smooth is fast.
- Chief of safety: last to leave the rail when a broach threatens.
Olson notes
- “The driver is at the mercy of the trimmers” — at a roundup wait for pole-back and sheet-ease before fighting the rudder; the rudder is not enough on this boat.
- In heavy air, sail about 20 degrees off dead run until the boat is settled and planing.
Owns: Steer the start, Trim the main, Execute the tack, Drive downwind VMG.
Source: 261027 Crew Job Descriptions | Section: Six-Person Crew