Liaison Systems - how to make them effective with the resources you have

The first speaker, Vladimir Martus – Chief Liaison Officer, St Petersburg, Russia – used his experience as the basis of his presentation about the liaison system and the process of recruitment, selection, training and management. Martus decided to seek young people with language skills who they could then teach about sailing and the knowledge required to be a LO, rather than start with sailors who couldn’t speak another language. They recruited in universities where languages were taught using advertising, internet communications and flyers designed to appeal to young people. Liaison officers themselves can benefit from the ethos of Sail Training International – using sail training to help young people benefit from the sail training experience - and this can be incorporated into their own training, especially for team building. The training programme and preparation for LOs was extensive and arrangements for the event itself included such details as an easy-to-remember telephone number, sleeping bags and mattresses for the LO centre so that LOs could rest when possible without having to go home.

Espen Wold, from Stavanger, described his preparations for the LOs for the 2011 race. Wold identified a number of issues that he considers to be of importance in his alternative system which includes ‘crew friends’ as well as LOs. He also detailed the skills and experience required of a Chief Liaison Officer and other related individuals.

Both presenters emphasised the importance of ensuring that the LOs enjoy themselves. If they are competent and happy, their ships and captains will be happy too. Both their training and the event itself should be fun for everyone.

Speakers

Vladimir Martus: Chief Liaison Officer, St Petersburg, Russia

Espen Wold: Commander, Royal Norwegian Navy, Norway