Skipper Ultimate responsibility for boat's safety and performance as well as the public face of the team off the water. Positioned in the afterguard or "brains trust" and usually doubles up as helmsman, tactician, or strategist. A leader and motivator who gets the best performance from his crew while remaining calm under pressure. Tactician Responsible for the positioning of the boat on the course, taking into account wind, tide, sea conditions and the state of the race. Draws on input from the crew, strategist and navigator and must have implicit trust of the helmsman, especially during the frantic pre-start.It is a major role and the tactician acts as the eyes of the boat. Helmsman Concentrates on driving the boat as fast as possible. Takes input from tactician, navigator and trimmers. Often split into two roles with a specialist pre-start helm, who hands over to the race helm. During the pre-start (five minutes before gun) the helmsman is crucial in the jockeying for position to secure the best possible position for crossing the line. Bowman All action role involved in hoisting, dropping and controlling the headsails. When gybing he swaps the sheets at the end of the spinnaker pole. Often has to climb to the end of the pole or is hoisted up the mast to organise sheets and halyards. Also acts as the eyes at the front of boat, judging distances, especially valuable during the pre-start. Needs to be agile, sure-footed and must not suffer from seasickness. | 
