Mission: know what the race is doing a minute before it does it — and free the Helm to drive.
Duties
- The start plan is decided before the first gun — favoured end and how much, course side for the first beat, approach and holes; settled with Helm by the 5-minute warning and briefed to the crew (Plan the start).
- Call every maneuver (“set after the mark”, “gybe in ten”); Bow’s “Ready” finalises timing.
- Sail choice calls with Helm’s sign-off; run the countdown at starts.
- Weight coordinator on a ULDB — lateral weight is rig tune with 1,800 lb of keel.
- Work the main through the maneuvers: throw or choke it on gybes, take the sheet around on tacks when Helm needs the rudder for steering — Helm owns the trim between maneuvers.
- Downwind: the tactical seat and communicator — track wind, call puffs and shifts from behind, manage traffic. The guy is the other upwind Trimmer’s — not this seat’s. The kite is fed and gathered at the forward hatch by the Bow (Oh! practice), not from the companionway.
Olson notes
- Heavy-air upwind: foot, sheets eased, twist on — flat-and-travelled-down is not enough.
- Big-air dead run: leave the #3 jib up to stabilise flow and stop wraps.
Owns: Plan the start, Run the start clock, Throw the mainsail, Call tactics downwind, Leave the number three up.
Source: 261027 Crew Job Descriptions | Section: Six-Person Crew