- Trust the Foundation. The sailboat is the foundation, the core on which we rely in sailing. Trusting the boat includes trusting the designers who designed it, the manufacturers who made it, and the sailor who rigged it. The standing rigging, what holds up the mast, is rigged at the beginning of the season, after launch, when the mast is raised. Tensioning and all kinds of fiddle-f*ing is done to ensure the safety of the boat. Trusting the rigger isn't often considered, although when I hear of a de-masting during a race, as I did last week, I appreciate the capabilities of the person who rigged my boat! I don't question the safety of the boat; I rely on it completely. In heavy wind, squalls, and all kinds of seemingly disastrous situations I have found myself in on a sailboat, that the boat will survive and can be trusted.
- Trust the Leader. The skipper is the leader of a sailing team, the one who takes responsibility for the boat and the crew. It's important to have one person designated for the final calls in tough situations, and that person must have the respect of the crew. The crew looks to the leader to make the tough calls. The leader earns trust through her actions, capabilities and track record.
- Trust the Team. Whether with rookie or seasoned crew, the team together make the boat move. In my experience, I depend on team members to sail the boat, while I drive. I avoid singlehanded sailing since I know my limitations, and it's much more fun to participate in a team! With rookie crew, I trust my capabilities as a sailor and communicator to be able to coach and teach people to do what it takes to sail the boat. Whether it is hauling halyards, trimming the sheets, grinding winches, or recovering from some messy situation, I depend on my crew to do whatever it takes.
There are multiple layers of trust involved in teamwork. It goes beyond trusting each individual team member: it includes trusting the leader, and the foundation on which the team is built. I've been in some hazardous situations throughout my sailing career, and have survived them all due to the power in teamwork.
