This was a last minute addition from Anna to make sure crew get their due!  Seriously, though, crew are very important.  They need to be the eyes and ears for the skipper, scouting wind shifts, puffs, and lulls, as well as keeping the skipper informed of competitors’ actions and various tactical situations.  Smooth teamwork is essential to good boat handling.  Crew can make the difference by helping to trim the sails and boat properly to gain that little bit of extra speed.  Sailing, just as much and in some cases more than traditional sports, is a team sport.