The onshore social element of the equation is always important. I know of some teams that organize golf outings and ski trips. Lotz says he doesn't organize any such outings, but he does have organized sailing in different places to keep things interesting for the team, places like San Francisco, Key West, and the Caribbean.

When I asked all three whether they rotated crew to mix things up and, perhaps, build more interest, their answers varied, depending on the type of racing they do. On distance races their crews do rotate positions during watches, but on short-course races all three emphasized the importance of crewmembers becoming specialists in specific areas. I once tried rotating crew around on an America's Cup team, and it was a disaster. Everyone was far more comfortable working in assigned position. So, fellow sailors, scratch that idea off the list.

Professional sailors are much more available nowadays, but is it really necessary to hire a pro or two to bring the team to a higher level? Certainly having a paid hand that can sail full-time can be an asset, but this can get expensive, and hired hands may not always be available, so it's best to not be reliant on having one onboard all the time. My advice is to hire a pro (if your budget allows) and have them spend time training with your team, similar to hiring a ski or golf instructor for an early season tune up. In the long run, most teams will be better off racing with the same crew through a full campaign.

As I thought about the skill difference between professional and amateur sailors, I received some interesting comments from my focus group.

"The professional crews are often way too serious about winning," says Bayer. "It is a business for them because they have to do well in order to sell their wares, be it sails, hardware, or crew services."