On being a professional sailor

 On being a professional sailor


by Joe Cooper, WindCheck
In my August 2023 column, I wrote about the skills to have and those you learn being The Boat Captain. But being a (THE) Boat Captain is a subset of being a professional sailor. The captain is (should be) more manager than line worker, if you will. Recently one of the high school kids I know asked me, “How do I get to be a professional sailor?” Kind of a variation on a theme. I know a few nippers who are splashing in this puddle at the moment, but (viable) career advice is not really a three-line text proposition. I have been musing on the answer to this question. AND the following is the result of said musing.

Some of the background I hope to address.

• Professional, in what role on the boat? Steer, bow, navigate, tactics?
• Which boat? OD or box rule? Cape 31, TP52, Solo open ocean, SailGP, America’s Cup, Melges class, or M32 Cats?
• Offshore. The Ocean Race, Vendée Globe, “regular” ocean races, the 600-mile races, Bermuda Race and so on?
• In what country? (do you have that language?)
• What do you have to know and/or be very good at?

First up, just what is a professional sailor? I categorize this in at least three classes. – Full report

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