Kirk’s Boots and Rule 3
When I was a kid, my brothers and I used to watch Star Trek re-runs at 4 PM on lazy summer afternoons. While I loved watching him in action against the Klingons or Romulans, I often wondered how Captain Kirk never got fired by Star Fleet. Even at ten years of age, based on my own fledgling experience commanding an old Penguin sailboat, with a crew of two or three kids, I knew there had to be more serious consequences to getting all those red-shirt guys disintegrated. This is where I benefited from one of the remarkable “teaching” aspects of racing sailboats.
The opportunity to learn about decision-making is everywhere in sailing. Hang around a venue or large body of water for any length of time, and you will see (or participate in) all kinds of decisions and the immediate results of those decisions. The consequences usually aren’t serious, but occasionally they’re disastrous. One of the common contributors to serious outcomes is the perceived pressure to proceed even when common sense screams, “STOP!” That’s where Rule 3 should immediately spring to mind.
The Racing Rules of Sailing say…
3 DECISION TO RACE The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.
So, what does that mean to the typical sailor? In short, if you go out there, it’s on you. The race managers take no responsibility for your actions.
“Huh,” you say. “You mean I have to make my own choices, take personal responsibility for those choices and I can’t blame a poor outcome on anybody else?”
Yep. That’s exactly what it means. (Serious life lesson here!)
In sailing, (and in life) it’s usually about balancing your skills, equipment, and the prevailing conditions. Often times, a race or regatta is interrupted by less than desirable weather. Either too much wind and water, or maybe not enough. It is not uncommon for a system to swoop in before racing gets underway, and the Race Management folks say “This won’t provide a fair contest,” resulting in a postponement or cancelation. Sometimes, however, they say “Let’s go sailing,” when you’d rather not, or more often, conditions change after racing is already underway. That’s when you get to put on your Captain Kirk boots and exercise the responsibility of command described in Rule 3, and hopefully not lose any red-shirt guys in the process.
Here’s some pointers on how to make the call.
Start by asking some general questions. Am I in good enough shape (mind and body) to handle these conditions? Is the equipment up to the task? Have I practiced for these conditions? Do I have a plan for the things that are most likely to go wrong? Are there resources available if the situation devolves rapidly? If the answers aren’t solidly in the YES column of the balance sheet, you must resolve the issues or don’t go. If you are already out on the water, head for the beach. It’s better lose the race than to lose something irreplaceable.
Let’s get a little more specific and real.
Here’s a recent situation faced by one our junior racers:
It’s a weekday evening, 90 minutes before sunset. The wind is blowing 12-15 with some big gusts. The air temp is 80 and the water is 75. The lake isn’t all that big, so there aren’t any waves. You’re going out in a one person self-rescuing dinghy for a casual race. You’re fairly new to the class of boat, but you’re young and strong. While rigging, you noticed some significant chaffing on the outhaul, but decide it will be fine for tonight. When you get to the course, you see there’s only one safety boat for the fleet of 14 boats. It’s a handful to keep the boat upright in the puffs. You’re thinking to yourself “wearing the PFD was a good call” when out of the blue the outhaul breaks, turning your sail into a massive flag that can only drag you downwind, towards the far shore of the lake. In the meantime, the safety boat is assisting another sailor who turtled his boat, sticking the mast in the muddy bottom. So, there you are, drifting briskly away from the fleet and further away from assistance. Did anybody notice my problem? When will they come get me? Soon you’re wondering how long it will take to drift all the way across the lake, and will they have a phone to call home? Do they have food on that side of the lake? Good thing this isn’t a big body of water…
How could the afore mentioned questions have averted this mishap? Lets review…
Am I in good enough shape (mind and body) to handle these conditions? Young, strong, and not afraid.
Is the equipment up to the task? Questionable outhaul. Nope.
Have I practiced for these conditions? New to the class. Nope.
Do I have a plan for the things that are most likely to go wrong? Self-rescuing boat and PFD.
Are there resources available if the situation devolves rapidly? One safety boat for 14 boats is OK for a lighter air, but overwhelmed in a blow. Nope.
So looking back, maybe this wasn’t the best time to try out the boat in the big breeze, at least until the outhaul got fixed and a second safety boat came out to the course, then it was a perfect evening to get some much needed experience!
Here’s the bottom line. Don’t be afraid to put on the Star Fleet issue boots. Decision-making is a skill that requires practice. Accepting some risk is part of life, but never forget that there’s no guarantee of rescue from your decision.