July 9, 2007
by Mean Machine Sailing Team
9 Jul |
0 comments
If you ask any member of an elite sailing team what the keys to success are, they are all likely to give the same response: teamwork, preparation, R+D and a good shore crew.
Over the last few years, the importance of the care and attention to every minute detail of the material that goes into building a successful boat and every last elementt working to perfection is something that is evident in some of the most unexpected places.
Winning or losing can depend on many different factors, and some of those might not be as visible as others…such as the shore crew.
They arrive shortly after dawn, when the quayside is still relatively peaceful and calm. They are there to ensure the boat is 100% ready for racing by the time the sailing team starts the day. Even after dark they can be seen checking that everything in the sea’s “Formula1” is working to perfection.
The Mean Machine TP52 team have always been very aware of the significance of this department, which can sometimes pass unnoticed to the eye of the general public. We spoke to “Reido”, aka Chris Reid, the Captain of the Mean Machine – Valle Romano TP52 and Manager of the shore crew.
“For the TP52 Mean Machine-Valle Romano we have a shore crew that varies from 2 people then up to 4-5 people when we are in full competition mode. Now, we are based in Puerto Portals for the first half of the season due to its location and helpfulness of the yard. We will be here until the end of the Copa Del Rey when the circuit moves onto Portugal then Hyeres for the finale. At the moment we are making preparations to be fully optimised for the season”.
Mean Machine-Valle Romano’s shore crew are Chris Reid and Dean Money.
But let there be no doubt that a successful shore crew operates with some considerable logistics at its core: “We will be busy in these upcoming months finalising logistics and covering ourselves for any eventuality. This ranges from organising movement of our 40 foot container and high top van” adds Chris, referring to the material they have to transfer from place to place for each regatta.
“Inside the container we have a full workshop, and sail storage. In the high top van we have spinnaker storage, an industrial sewing machine and off site catering equipment. As well as all this we also transport our team support boat.”
The secret to the team’s success is most definitely not on public show, as Chris points out: “There are many sides that are not seen by the public, but when these are done properly it makes for a very professional looking team indeed.”
Keys to success:
1) The boat must 110% ready to race.
2) The crew must be happy – good food will go a long way to make this happen!
3) The team must be dressed in the same uniform and look and feel good in it.
4) Logistics must be taken care of so equipment is easily accessible during the entire event.
5) Media – requirements must be met to keep sponsors happy and to keep the profile of the team in high regard.
Reido also mentions another rock in the Mean Machine team, Sarah Okane. Hailing from Wales Sarah plays a very significant role in the shore team. One could say she does a bit of everything; she’s responsible for all the accommodation arrangements for the team during the whole circuit, as well as preparing all the food and drink provisions for the boys to take out to sea, and making sure there’s plenty for them when they get back. Sarah coordinates all of the team lunches and dinners, and makes sure that there’s always enough of everything for everyone, especially after an exhausting day in sometimes fierce heat, when Sarah makes sure there’s an ice cold fridge full of all sorts of isotonic refreshments. However, her role in the team is much bigger than that…Sarah is the team ‘Mum’, the one who’s up before everybody and doesn’t rest until hours after they’ve all gone to sleep.
TP52 Captain Chris Reid added: “Basically preparation is everything and the more you can cover yourself the better off you will be”.
