Topics to Discuss with Inexperienced Crew (Before you Launch)

• Ask them to tell you if they are feeling uncomfortable with anything so you can make a no-go decision
• Ask them what experience they have (i.e. have they ever gone out on trapeze before?)
• Discuss the sailing plan, conditions, and what the chance of capsizing is
• Demonstrate how they will have to get onto the boat (if they will be wearing a harness, show them what NOT to do so they don't put the hook into the hull). 
• Discuss what they should do if the boat capsizes (i.e., slide down the catamaran trampoline, check if the other person is okay, always hold onto the boat in some way, swim around to the underside of the boat and hang onto the centerboard, etc.)
• In the unlikely event that you (the skipper) falls off the boat, the crew should release the main sheet if it is cleated, then grab hold of the tiller (or cross-bar on a catamaran) and push it away from them. This causes the boat to head into irons and slow down so that the skipper can get back to the boat. 
• Hazards they should be aware of (i.e., the boom)
• Demonstrate any tasks that you will ask the crew to perform (i.e., moving the centerboard, sheeting the jib, hoisting/dousing the spinnaker, etc.)
• If necessary, discuss the basics of points of sail so they can better understand what the boat is doing during the sail. 
• On catamarans, consider getting the crew to practice getting onto trapeze and moving from one side to the other before you set up the main sail and put the boat on the dolly.