Wind warriors set sail

Pete Siddon
Contributing Writer

FOR anyone contemplating, watching
the start of West Vancouver Yacht
Ciub’s Southern Straits this morning
off Dundarave Pier, an understanding
of what is happening onboard and
who does what to keep the boat sail-
ing will make your experience more
enjoyable.

Regardless of the size of the boat, it requires
someone fo steer, someone to tell them where
to steer (you and I refer to this as a navigator),
and someone (or a group) to adjust the sails.
Everyone in the boat has.a title and a job
description which would, in the world of

* Human Resources Management, defy logic.

Only in the world of sailing do terms like
Sewsrman, Trimmer and Grinder have nothing,
to do with public works, gardening or metal-

_ working. Boats with Antipodean crews are
famous for creating names for people regardless
of their skills or position on the bost.

A Cotterpin is used to secure the rigging
wires from undoing themselves while at sea. In
Australia, a Cotterpin is known ‘as a “Splitpin”.
On an Aussie crewed boat, a “Splitpin” is the
tallesr, skinniest crew member. Go figure.

Starting at the siern (that’s the back of the
boat to you), it could be the Runnerman in a
pure racing boat who is responsible for tension-
ing the running backstays which are wires that
adjust the shape of the sails and hold the mast
uz. The runners have tobe constantly adjusted,
_feleased or tensioned. Hence the name
Runnerman (person to complicate the issuc).

Normally the Helmsman steers the boat (on
an. all female crew. boat it’s still called the
Helmsman). Always attached to an icy cold
_stainless stee! wheel or wooden tiller (steering

_ arm), this: person has the coldest job on the
boat. Wi nd, waves.and temperature combine to
make this,” the job that requires the least physi-
cal movement, a cold, wet ride.

Of course, if the boat gets out of control,
then the crew. immediately renames the
Helmsman the “idiot” or some related exple-
tive.

Navigator (the someone who tells where to
steer) is the one title that actually makes sense.
Some “Navis” never appear on deck because
they are totally engrossed in plotting courses,
reading the weather or spying on the other
boats" progress.

In the Southern Straits race, catching the
- correct tide is probably one of the most crucial
decisions the Navi makes. Some will eyeball

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these decisions from up on deck
while others play with laptops
down below.

of course, if the beai
int a ohole® ino wind). it’s
aiways the Navigator's fault. The
rest of the crew's respon sibility is
to keep the boat moving at its
optimum speed, which entails
trimming and changing. sails.
Various titles occur here.

As mentioned, the
Runnerman is one, but every
boat has Grinders, Trimmers,
Foredeck, and Mastnan. Some
of the larger beats will have
Sewerman, Stuffers, Tacticians
and other unique flattering
names for Move: ble Ballast.

The following is « summary of
each of the crew's roles:

Grinder: Operates the winch-
es that pull on ropes. Usuatiy
someone who is strong and ath-
letic. Could be two/three people
who don’t necessarily know any-
thing about sailing.

Trimmer: Adjusts the sails to
the best shape for the conditions.
Barks orders to the Grinder.
Someone who has a keen sense of
air flow characteristics. Could be
two/three people.

Foredeck: Organizes and changes sails for-
ward of the mast. Gets yelled at the most by
everyone else. Will be someone who really
knows what they’re doing and must enjoy being
wet and a part-time acrobat. Has to work fast
and never, ever make a mistake. Usually one per-
son, or may have an assistant.

Mastman: Raises and lowers sails quickly.
Assists in bringing sails up on deck anc storing
the same sails. Someone who is strong, with a
keen sense of balance and timing. Usually one
or two people.

Sewerman: Organizes all sails below deck,
and gets sails up on deck. Some one who never
gets seasick and enjoys being wet. Part-time
seamstress an asset. Ability to dance on an oil
drum. One person.

Stuffer: Packs and unpacks spinnakers. Sec
previous job description.

Tactician: Informs everyone of where they
are in relation to the other boats and positien in
the race. Works well with the “Navi”. Someone
who is a good taiker and team builder. Part-time
liar. Very popular if youre winning; a bum if
you're losing.

Movable Ballast: Everyone. Must be agile
and capable of moving themselves to the oppo-

“sally

Dear Mr. Fizz: Arc you .
having a stroke?

Fizz: [ haven't decided
yet, buc PH celebrate the
wonders of the human
machine with a Netherland
Cocktail: | oz. brandy,
oz. Triple Sec, a dash of

’ orange bitters. Shake well “

with cracked ice and strain.
into a chilled cocktail glas

someone who loves. me
enough to never'let me

-_ touch her. again?

-NEWS. photo Cindy Goodmaa
RICK Reynolds aboard Ocean's Razor, one of a num-
ber of loca! boats that will compete in this weekend's
Southern Straits. Racing begins today at 10:36 a.m.

site side of the boat quickly and without imped:

ing the activity of the boat changing directions.

Must like being wet, cold and windburnt.
Cook: Prepsres, rncals or some reszmblance

thereof. Cannot get seasick. Someone who hap- ©

pens to be down below in the cabin at mealtime.
Could be anyone. :
Skipper: Organizes crew into job descrip-

tions mentioned above. Barks orders ro alt crew.--

if headstrong, will be identified by the shirt that
says “Bligh’s the name, sailing’s the game”. IF
otherwise (ie. a quice achiever), will be know as
“the Bill Paver”. Often known to go under the
name “Wife”.

So there you have it. These are the people
you'll see out on the water sailing this weekend.
And you never know, on Monday that wind-
burnt face sitting next to you, staring into the
computer at work could be the Sewerman or
Moveable Ballast.

Human Resources Managenient rarely see
these titles on job applications.

Enjoy the start, and who knows, someday
you may want to add “Foredeck” to your
Tesume.

Pete Siddons is the a longtime sailor and serves
as public relations director, or “windsock,” for the
30th annual Southern Straits race.

The Fool: the butterfly of metamorphosis

MARCILIO Ficino the
14th century Florence
“physician of the Soul” as .
he was fondly referred to
by his colleagues of both
noble and religious back-
grounds is considered by
modern day Jungians to
be the father of psycholo-

Ficino believed thar spirit was everywhere.
Enlightenment, while it raight be found in
the pious enclaves of monastic life, was cer-
tainly found in the everyday world and in
everyday. chings. Grace was seen in charms
and amulets in the blue lapis of the philoso-
pher's stone, in the elixir of soul in the form
of wine which he recommended be drunk
twice a day! To the aroma of the Howering
blossoms on which the vapors of soul moves.

Moveme'tt, essential to soul is where the
Foot of Tarot comes in. His travels through
the Tarot symbols describe the evolving soul
and his arduous promenade through life. The
Fool, our essence is equipped with his butter:
fy of mcramorphosis, gathered te holds his
grapes an ode to Bacchus, the god ot wine
and of madness and contained are his fears

shown by the tiger biting at his

hip. Our Fool holds fire in his

lett hand and crystals in his
right testament to combining
differing energies and transmut:
ing them into new ways of per-
ceiving. The fine tubing in oval
shape that courses abut our

Fool and his heart is rhe umbili-

cal cord of soul that is never

severed from the divine.

Thus our alchemic¢ journcy
whether we wish to remember or not is cho-
sen willfidly, purposefully when we incarnat-
ed. Taking responsibility fer this choice is
perhaps our biggest evolutionary stride. We
cheose our parents, we choose our mates, we
choose our path, this the meaning of “free
will.” Phe gift, the spark of life is granted by
the divine. Remember then your guardian
angels’ kiss before your birth leaving a sweet
indent on your upper lip and with gentle
whispers wiping away your conscious memo-
ry of Soul.

Drawn the Foot alludes to your faith in
your path, Choices await, choose wisely and
rejoice in the splendor that is your unique
moment, your life. For more information on
Farot call Diana E. Warwick at 926 9027 or
email dwarwick@direct.ca

Lady Frieda Harris designed The Foot card for Aleister Crowley's Book of Thoth.

Merete
‘
Press ietoeacrreterial’

bere

‘J

Colada: >

do, it will be-magical, just
like a New York Cocktail
14 oz. whiskey, 4

a
Shake well with cracked
and strain into a‘chilled,
cocktail glass...

Dear Mr. Fizz: It’s’ ‘true,
scwer water does taste. dif
ferent.in every city.

Fizz: Your homespun

-wisdom will bring troubl

families together. Welc!
to my Nightmare: 1% 02
gin, % oz. Madeira, ¥ oz
cherr y brandy, 1 tsp. orange
juice. Shake well with
cracked ice and strain.into 4,
chilled cocktail glass...
Dear Mr. Fizz: It’s offi:
cial, Mn 'lost. :
Fizz: {t’s an enzyme.
thing, hard to contral.

Meanwhile find. yourself

the fixings. for 2 nice Nutty
o4. Amaretto, ?
AT. tana,

cag,

an electric biender until”
desired consistency. Pour ©
unstrained into’a collins
glass and garnish with |
pineapple slice.’

Dear Mr. Fiza: r didn’ t.
want trouble, I just want
ed a chance. All I heard *
was, “You can’t, you ="
can’t...” It was bad :
enough when I found out
they weren’t talking about :
someone named You. Ir.
was me. -
Fizz: Can you do som
thing abour the way the
cut up the Odd Coxpie'res
runs? Can you make a. +:
Nutty irishman? ¥% oz. -
Irish witiskey, 4 02.
Frangelico, 2 oz. cream):
Shake well with cracked ice,
Strain into aii old-fashioned -
glass filled with ice.

Dear Mr. Fiza: f wanta | >
gross over-simplification I.
can slap on my car

bumper so I can feel Pm.
doing something.

Fizz: Here’s a good one:
I'd rather be smashing
imperialism. Toast the hero- ~
ic proletariat with an
Orange Fizz: 24% oz. gin;

14 oz. orange juice, 4 02.
lemon juice, 2 tsp. Triph
Sec, 1 tsp. sugar, 2 dashes:
orange bitters, club soda.

Shake well with ice and

ininta a collins glass
dowith ec. Topwith

ond garnish with
Hide, :

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