{"id":361,"date":"2025-09-30T14:47:58","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=361"},"modified":"2025-09-30T14:47:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:47:58","slug":"5-expert-tips-how-to-be-a-yachts-watch-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=361","title":{"rendered":"5 expert tips: How to be a yacht\u2019s watch leader"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pete Cumming shares tips for being a great watch leader with Andy Rice<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Although he\u2019s the crew boss and watch captain of 100ft Maxi yacht Scallywag in his own right, Pete Cumming is always eager to learn from the best. After operating as a driver\/trimmer on board Volvo 70 Tsch\u00fcss 2\u2019s line honours victory in the Transatlantic Race 2025 in June, he was inspired by the calm leadership of watch captains Neal McDonald and Stu Bannatyne.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeal and Stu are really good at making sure everyone on the boat is connected with the decision-making process, which keeps everyone motivated and all pushing towards the same objective. Which might seem really obvious, but I\u2019ve been on plenty of boats where the front end of the boat has no idea what the people at the back are thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe moment Neal or Stu come off watch, they\u2019re checking in with the navigator, Campbell Field, just getting an overview of what\u2019s going on before they go to sleep. Are there going to be any sails challenges coming up in the next four hours while they\u2019re off?\u201d<\/p>\n

Done right, the watch captain spans many roles, from co-ordinating the boat handling up on deck to making sure everybody on their watch is physically and mentally able to work to their best within a demanding and maybe even sometimes hostile working environment.<\/p>\n

Here are Pete\u2019s five key tips for being the best watch captain you can be.<\/p>\n

Staying in the loop<\/h2>\n

I think it was Brad Butterworth who said that when a team breaks down, lunatics start running the asylum.<\/p>\n

When there\u2019s no communication through the boat, and maybe a lack of trust, you get in situations when the crew suddenly decide they\u2019re going to call the gybe because the navigator\u2019s asleep and you don\u2019t want to disturb him. With the seasoned pros this lack of comms is never allowed to happen.<\/p>\n

Article continues below\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

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Keelboat sailors obsess about maintaining the optimum angle of heel. According to Chris \u2018Twiggy\u2019 Grube, it\u2019s a good obsession to\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n