Tactician Responsibilities – Now What. Being the Tactician on your boat carries with it a lot of responsibility. Depending on the size of the boat and the number of team members, the way you handle the job will vary greatly.
I have set out below some of the key methods and duties needed to be an effective Tactician.
- Only one person should be designated to be the Tactician.
- The Tactician must have the authority to call for manoeuvres. They must put together the boat’s strategy in advance.
- They must make sure that the boat stays in the vicinity of the bulk of the fleet. Flyers rarely pay off.
- The boat must be kept in clear air and the Tactician’s job is to continually plan what is ahead so you don’t sail into trouble.
- A good Tactician will anticipate and then communicate the next move. This means the crew can be prepared both physically and mentally.
- They must be ready with new ideas to improve boat speed, only making one adjustment at a time. This is only one of many tactician responsibilities.
- Watch other boats in the fleet and compare the relative performances, only communicating the bare minimum.
- The Tactician’s job is to understand the Sailing Instructions and the course. They must have up-to-date knowledge of the rules.
- Early warnings are essential to avoid mistakes because crews don’t like surprises.
- They need to constantly monitor wind speed and direction.
- In a tight situation, a Tactician should ask the helmsperson to look at the other boats.
- Discuss tactical options with the team before and after the race.
- The Tactician should helm the boat in various conditions so that they know how the boat handles.
- Always present options with clear recommendations.
- Go with your first instinct.
- Wherever possible, give an explanation for a manoeuvre, as an example, “we are gybing to clear our air”.
- Avoid long silences that may convey that your mind has wandered or you are worried about what is going on in the race.
- Congratulate the crew when things go well because most teams respond favourably.
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