A-Rater Crewing – What It Takes

 

A-Rater Crewing – What It Takes

The Roles on Board and Why Teamwork Makes These Rockets Fly

Crewing an A-Rater isn’t just about showing up and holding a rope.

These legendary Thames racing machines — with their towering masts, narrow hulls, and sails the size of small gardens — demand precision, timing, and trust from every crew member.

At first glance, they look impossibly elegant. But step aboard, and you’ll quickly learn that teamwork is everything.

The Three Key Roles Aboard an A-Rater:

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👨‍✈️ Helm – The Driver

• Steers the boat

• Calls the tactics (when to tack, when to cover)

• Feels the pressure and directs the team

• Often the most experienced person on board

• Must have nerves of steel and a good shouty voice

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⚖️ Midhand – The Human Ballast

• Moves quickly to balance the boat

• Keeps the boat flat through tacks and gusts

• Trims the main if needed

• Reacts fast — this is athletic sailing

• Easily the most exhausted after a long race

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⛵ Jib Hand – The Frontline Worker

• Controls the jib

• Calls gusts and pressure from the front

• Times the tack switches and manages sail trim

• Must be both agile and fearless

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Why It All Matters

When sailing a boat with more sail area than your living room and a hull that heels at the whisper of a breeze, one mistake — an early tack, a late duck, or poor weight shift — can mean a capsize, a torn sail, or a race lost.

But when it all comes together? It’s magic. The A-Rater surges forward, the team dances across the deck, and the River Thames becomes a racetrack of silk and speed.

No room for egos — only for teamwork.