The Engineer leads the engineering
team and is responsible to the skipper for keeping the mechanical, electrical
and plumbing systems on board in full working order.
Crew that have volunteered and
been selected for specific roles on board are invited to attend the pre-race
preparation week in August for training on how to fulfil these roles safely
and to full potential by the Clipper Race maintenance staff.
Round the world crew member,
Charlie Crapper, a Precision Engineer from Oxfordshire put himself forward for
the task on board the Derry~Londonderry~Doire entry.
Charlie sat down with Clipper Race
HQ to talk about his role of engineer.
Clipper Race: When you
heard about the engineering position on the race, what made you decide to
volunteer?
Charlie: Following Crew
Allocation, my skipper emailed me to ask me if I would like to take on the role
as I had an engineering background. It appealed to me so I agreed and became
the team engineer.
Clipper Race: Describe
the training at pre-race prep week, what was it like?
Charlie: I attended a two-hour
training session on engineering on board, including how to put the water maker
together and how it worked. I also worked alongside my skipper.
Clipper Race: What
kind of responsibilities where you given during the race?
Charlie: I had to make sure we had
enough consumables on board. For example: oil, oil filters and fuel filters for
the main engine and generator, plenty of water maker filters and paper towels,
a spare water pump for the generator spare impeller for it and a spare electric
pump for the water maker.
Each boat has an on board tool kit
that you need to look after and if you need any additional tools, you will need
to put in a requisition with your skipper.
Clipper Race: How did
you find the responsibilities you were given, were they manageable and did you
enjoy the role?
Charlie: I enjoyed the
responsibility. It was all very manageable and it gave me an additional
experience. My fellow crew members would come to me for advice if they needed
assistance or to fix something and I learn a lot more about the workings of a
round the world ocean racer and how to look after the boat so it looks after
you and your team.
Clipper Race: What
would you say to people who were considering volunteering for this role?
Charlie: If you are thinking about
taking up this role you would need to be very hands on with an engineering
background or DIY skills.
It's not an easy job and working
in bad weather can make it more challenging.