but someone mentioned getting to the start area early and checking the line out. What I've found is that the line is never set until just before the first fleet goes into their start sequence. I don't feel I should be messing around, checking how square the line is in another fleet's sequence and I'm a little rushed to do so within a 5 minute when it comes to my fleet's turn; especially in light winds (get over to the line from where you were parked to keep out of the prior fleet's way, check the line, sail back over to where you want to position yourself for the start sequence).
But by being there early, you will probably know the OOD is going to change the line before he does ! And you :
A, will be expecting it,
B, Know roughly where (s)he (should) put the line, and
C, know when the wind will shift back again (or not).
Also, some more comments on roles and singing :
All my crews get worried when I stop talking - This means it's so windy I am having to concentrate on actually sailing the boat instead of doing it on "Auto pilot" and getting my head out of the boat.
Another good tip if you are sailing 2 up is split responsibilities up in a logical way. For example on my Hurricane 5.9 upwind :
Helm (me) would be responsible for boat speed as the primary controls are Mainsheet, rudder and Downhaul (until Maxxed), so I keep my eyes on waves, and boat trim and crew plays the downhaul (when not maxxed), calls gusts and holes in the wind and decides tactics and the route (and makes provides general feedback to me on general conditions and shift patterns and progress). I would also call for movement fore/aft to balance the boat
Downwind the roles are somewhat reversed :
Without the kite, the crew is down to leaward and cannot see much(if there is some wind anyway), so I look for shifts and gusts, crew can call some changes in wind by the changes in sheet loads.
With the Kite, Crew is (Hopefully out on the wire) but still should be very busy trimming the kite (but some of this can be done by feel) and so will play a larger role in wave and wind watching. Helm will (probably) be responsible to judging gybe angles and if you are crossing (or not) other boats as there is more visability under the boom - however when very windy, the crew will be right back and should be able to see behind the mainsail.
This is what has worked for me in the past, you really need to split roles that work for you (and your crew). Within the Hurricane 5.9 fleet at one point, a Brother and sister pair even switched roles (crew and helm) depending on the wind strenth: he was a good helm in a blow, whe was better in the light stuff - I personnaly did not have a problem with them doing this, but some people did. Many years ago when sailing my Dart 18, the standard practice at the front of the fleet was for the crew to helm from the wire on tight reaches so the helm could play the mainsail with both hands. (Dart 18 is single wire)
