Nautical Mastery

Mastery, the key word...

From the first tacks to nautical mastery, the journey can be long. While the sea is a magnificent playground, the dangers of practicing sailing are often underestimated. Coastal and offshore navigation therefore require a minimum level of autonomy. This is acquired through experience, starting with serious training. The aspiring sailor must be careful not to move too quickly through their training path in order to validate the skills acquired at each level. A coastal cruising project or a voyage must therefore be carefully prepared.

A recurring feeling among most apprentice sailors can be summed up as follows: the more you know, the more you feel you know nothing! Indeed, as one moves toward autonomy, one realizes the extent of the practical and theoretical knowledge to be acquired. It is an excellent school of humility, a precious quality as soon as you step on board a boat. While the number of terms and notions to learn may seem discouraging to a beginner, the good news is that similar situations repeat themselves on every outing at sea. Gradually, reference points are integrated and refined, leading step by step to that level of practice which opens the doors to the open sea: mastery of the boat.

The novice must pass two major milestones to be able to sail autonomously.

The first level to reach (generally after several weeks of sailing) is that of autonomous crew member.

The role of crew member

An accomplished crew member must be able to perform all onboard maneuvers without the help of the skipper. Their responsibilities mainly concern the following points.

Mooring the boat

Mooring a boat of course requires knowing the functions of the different lines and the common knots used on board (cleat hitch, bowline, capstan, round turn and two half-hitches, etc.). An accomplished crew member therefore knows how to rig a bow line, a spring or a breast line, and set fenders in the right places according to the type of mooring.

Handling the sails

An essential skill for the crew member, who must know inside out the different types of maneuvers and their sequence: hoisting, lowering, trimming sails, but also sail reduction techniques...

Holding a course

A crew member must also be able to steer the boat at the helm and hold a course without deviating from the intended track. The skipper must be able to rely on them in all circumstances. The role of crew member therefore requires developing listening and observation skills whatever the situation.

A mandatory passage and excellent training toward the role of skipper!

The role of skipper

The second step toward nautical mastery is taking on the role of skipper. This time, holidays are over! No way to rely on another skipper in case of trouble; you will have to face it. While the beginnings as the person responsible for a boat can sometimes be anxiety-inducing, you never learn as much as when you can rely only on yourself. Gradually, you get used to carrying out the constant mental operations that make up a captain’s daily routine. At this stage, progress and smoothness accelerate. Be careful, however, not to confuse leadership with tyranny: the skipper is above all a coordinator in the service of the boat’s progress. This role is therefore essentially based on managing the following three parameters.

Crew management

The first area of competence of a skipper concerns the crew, with whom they must legitimize their authority by demonstrating know-how and interpersonal skills that prove their ability to lead while ensuring safety, comfort and a good atmosphere on board. Once trust is established, the skipper must monitor several parameters: anticipating crew fatigue, preventing psychological tensions, planning onboard tasks, managing watches... and accepting self-questioning!

Environmental management

The second area of competence of a skipper concerns the boat’s environment. This involves analyzing the weather to choose the best possible route according to the sailing program, while being able to avoid unnecessary risks in case of deterioration. This comes with time, and mistakes can be made... The crew must therefore also show understanding to play the game.

In case of trouble, the skipper must know how to make the right decisions, particularly when faced with an accident. That is why “experience” is a crucial parameter. Hence the need to “rack up the miles” to gain real experience of risky situations.

Equipment management

The third skill of the skipper concerns boat maintenance. Different parts must be monitored, such as the standing rigging (shrouds, mast condition and any corrosion points), the running rigging (condition of ropes and blocks), as well as the steering system, the engine, the hull, etc.

All these parameters make up a vast program that will undoubtedly fill the skipper’s days. While the role of skipper does not prevent having very enjoyable holidays, it also entails obligations which, to be experienced positively, must be seriously prepared.

Sailing in heavy weather

Heavy weather is a subject in its own right in your path as a skipper. It is one of the unavoidable factors to accept when sailing far, even on a coastal cruise.

You must therefore prepare for it as well as possible. To do so, do not hesitate to go sailing out of season with experienced sailors of course, all without taking unreasonable risks!

Maneuvers

In stressful situations we easily lose 50% of our capabilities, or even more. A squall arrives and forces you to reduce sail in less than two minutes?

An engine failure forces you to drop anchor in an emergency to avoid running aground on the rocks?

To handle emergencies properly, there is only one solution: know the maneuvers and their sequences by heart, so as to be able to perform them without thinking.

Autonomy

This combination of experience and knowledge will gradually lead you to autonomy, which will open the doors to the open sea.

Then all that will remain is to choose a project and set off on the waves! With, of course, new experiences at each stage that will allow you, mile after mile, to become an accomplished sailor.