iain2
New Member
Sorry for shouting at everyone - I should have been clearer, what I am looking for is a watch pattern for 3 crew ( all capable ) to maintain 2 on watch while crossing, under sail hopefully, Biscay, possibly 5 days.
3 CREW WATCHES
- Thread starter iain2
- Start date
landaftaf
Well-Known Member
if all have driving/sailing skills
4 on 8 off with ppl being on standby for callout 2 hrs either side of their watch schedules
for your info using capitals in any forum is akin to shouting .... which might seem a bit silly but there it is ....
bon voyage /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
4 on 8 off with ppl being on standby for callout 2 hrs either side of their watch schedules
for your info using capitals in any forum is akin to shouting .... which might seem a bit silly but there it is ....
bon voyage /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
I find 4 on 8 off great for sleep and ok during the day, but if its rough, or dark 4 hours is a long time. Some people use 3 on 6 off all the time, and some use 3 on 6 off at night and 4 on 8 off during the day. Depends on how rough it is as well! Sometimes its good to nominate one of the 'offwatch' as being on standby which makes sure that you get either 3 or 4 hours of undisturbed sleep.
Its also good if you can make sure that these is at least one time each day when you are all up. 1800 and one beer before evening meal or something so you can chat about what is happening? Make the effort, and make sure everyone on board gets a chance to share their experiences of the last 24 hours. Make sure that everyone knows who is responsible for cooking and cleaning up whilst at sea. Split the chores round the watches and you will arrive a happier and safer vessel.
Its also good if you can make sure that these is at least one time each day when you are all up. 1800 and one beer before evening meal or something so you can chat about what is happening? Make the effort, and make sure everyone on board gets a chance to share their experiences of the last 24 hours. Make sure that everyone knows who is responsible for cooking and cleaning up whilst at sea. Split the chores round the watches and you will arrive a happier and safer vessel.
landaftaf
Well-Known Member
yup - depends on the length of passage, weather, visability, shipping density and dangers about, temprature, ages of crew, amout of bevy consumed, auto pilot or not, size of boat, whether dried reconstituted food, tinned or 3 course meals reqd ..... plus the duty/standby persons boatkeeping duties ......
but of course I wasnt going to mention this to the poster as it was her/his first posting on the forum, and I presume a load more ideas from other forumites would continue the thread to give more input to the question
as it is now doing ...... sounds like its gonna happen soon so it should be nice weather as well
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
but of course I wasnt going to mention this to the poster as it was her/his first posting on the forum, and I presume a load more ideas from other forumites would continue the thread to give more input to the question
as it is now doing ...... sounds like its gonna happen soon so it should be nice weather as well
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
To have 2 on watch out of 3 means e.g. 8 on / 4 off. Did you really mean that? - it's a killing schedule and would leave you completely knackered by the time you get towards C Finisterre and potentially the worst weather.
It would make life easier if you had one person on watch (how many eyes does it take to scan the horizon every 10 mins?) with the off-going watch doing cook/standby. If you have a watch pattern of 3 x 4-hour watches during the day and 4 x 3-hour watches at night it will be a bit less gruelling than the naval system and 7 watches in 24 hours gives automatic rotation.
It would make life easier if you had one person on watch (how many eyes does it take to scan the horizon every 10 mins?) with the off-going watch doing cook/standby. If you have a watch pattern of 3 x 4-hour watches during the day and 4 x 3-hour watches at night it will be a bit less gruelling than the naval system and 7 watches in 24 hours gives automatic rotation.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
I agree with snowleopard. Having two on watch out of three on board is a killer. If the weather is half way decent, I find one on watch and one on standby ok. The standbyone is usually racked out - but knows that they will be called first in an emergency.
For those on watch - walkman, book etc etc. We have a kitchen timer on board which you can set to make sure you keep a lookout and scan the horizon every few minutes.
More hints for watchkeeping that work for us: We have a rule that the oncoming watch is woken 15 minutes (or however long they want) before they are due to come on. A plot is always on the chart for them, which they check. And most important, always have a hot drink ready for them when they are called! Hand over the shipping - let them get used to the cockpit and then ask if its ok to go.
For those on watch - walkman, book etc etc. We have a kitchen timer on board which you can set to make sure you keep a lookout and scan the horizon every few minutes.
More hints for watchkeeping that work for us: We have a rule that the oncoming watch is woken 15 minutes (or however long they want) before they are due to come on. A plot is always on the chart for them, which they check. And most important, always have a hot drink ready for them when they are called! Hand over the shipping - let them get used to the cockpit and then ask if its ok to go.
Woodentop
Well-Known Member
A proven Method
Used this last month for a 1500 mile trip with 3 people.
Each does 4 Hours on, 4 hours asleep, 4 hours on standby -. can be dozing.
The watches are all 4 hours but then slip in two short ones 1200 to 1400 and 1400 to 1600. This then moves on the cycle so you don´t get the same shifts all the time.
Used this last month for a 1500 mile trip with 3 people.
Each does 4 Hours on, 4 hours asleep, 4 hours on standby -. can be dozing.
The watches are all 4 hours but then slip in two short ones 1200 to 1400 and 1400 to 1600. This then moves on the cycle so you don´t get the same shifts all the time.
