Crew of three - watch routine

[snowleopard]

I like solo night watches but I always clip a (pound shop) electric kitchen timer to my jacket to set off an alarm every 30 minutes or so, just in case.

I was talking to a very experienced long distance cruiser last nigh. She said they have a timer that goes off after 9 minutes unless reset. About right for the time for a ship to come up over the horizon. In 30 minutes you could be run down without knowing it and wake up dead half an hour later

 

[prv]

for the first 24-48 hours it will be difficult for people to adjust their sleep routine so those on night watches are likely to be dopey. A full 4 hours 0000-0400 on the first night can be too much for most people. Other factors to be aware of at the start of a passage are seasickness (I always feel queasy for the first day or so) and constipation.

I can understand seasickness and taking a while to adjust to a new sleep pattern, but why would people be constipated at the start of a voyage?

Pete

 

[Baggywrinkle]

As already mentioned, it all depends on conditions and experience and if you need 2 on deck or not.

We recently did a similar length passage with 2 skippers (I trusted the other completely) and one competent crew, but no problems with sea sickness and weather was moderate but not challenging.

Due to the shortness of the trip (4 days/3 nights) we didn't do watches as such.

The night was split between skippers with a shift change at 2am (my wife and I used to have to do this when we had 3 kids that didn't sleep at night and we both had full time jobs).

One skipper stays up 'till 2am which is like a late night. The other sleeps from around 8pm till 2am and then takes the late shift. Crew tries to remain on a normal schedule also napping between meals and staying up late, getting up early but is also on call when needed.

During the day we all took regular naps when tired (late shift skipper slept most of the morning) and all mucked in with food etc. With this pattern you are rarely all tired at the same time and get plenty of sleep.

Skippers switch graveyard shift alternate nights.

It worked for us but I wouldn't like to do it if there were only one capable skipper on board.

 

[OGITD]

Back in the Navy

Dogs (both),
Middle,
Forenoon,
First,
Afternoon,
Morning.
With those off watch turn too during the Forenoon & the Dogs.

It nearly killed me ….. oh for a life back in the Navy.

 

[maxi77]

research has recently suggested that we are naturally attuned to 2 x 4-hour sleeps per 24 hours. Certainly I find it easy to slip into a couple of shorter sleeps a day on a long passage.

Whatever your watch pattern you need to recognise that for the first 24-48 hours it will be difficult for people to adjust their sleep routine so those on night watches are likely to be dopey. A full 4 hours 0000-0400 on the first night can be too much for most people. Other factors to be aware of at the start of a passage are seasickness (I always feel queasy for the first day or so) and constipation.

I see the logic but I am not sure it fits with seagoing watch paterns. At sea I used to go for months without ever getting an 8 hour sleep but i would have at least two sleep periods a day, but they could be significantly separated not as described in the article.

What is more important is how short is the period of effective sleep. I remember it being suggested that each period of sleep needed to be more than 4 hours, which is not achievable with 4 hours off as you need finite time to both go to sleep and wake up.

I can manage 24 hour periods with almost no sleep an 48 hour periods with just some periods of an hour or so, but more tha that needs a proper pattern of rest and work which provides reasonable periods of sleep and rest. Any passage over 24 hours needs a proper watch system even if you thinkm you are macho enough to get away with it

I would suggest that a 3 on 6 off pattern would work for most and provides a decent rest period. 2 on 4 off does not provide effective resr whilst 4 on 8 off makes single handed watchkeeping perhaps just tto mutch.

 

[Gwylan]

?? watch system

I'm planning a 4 day passage with a crew of 3. Could anyone recommend a watch routine they have used which worked well for them?

Thanks

Have a spread sheet with a 3 person system.
p.m. me with an email address & I'll send you a file.

Each person does 3 hours each.
A - on watch
B - standby
C - off watch

Starts at 20:00 and goes through to 08:00.
The days sort of takes care of itself, if you're sailing with reasonable types.

This way means that everyone gets 6 hours sleep but when they are on 'standby' they may be required to turn out if necessary to help the man on watch.

The cycle ensures that everyone gets a fair number of each watch set over a 3 day cycle.

 

[maxi77]

Have a spread sheet with a 3 person system.
p.m. me with an email address & I'll send you a file.

Each person does 3 hours each.
A - on watch
B - standby
C - off watch

Starts at 20:00 and goes through to 08:00.
The days sort of takes care of itself, if you're sailing with reasonable types.

This way means that everyone gets 6 hours sleep but when they are on 'standby' they may be required to turn out if necessary to help the man on watch.

The cycle ensures that everyone gets a fair number of each watch set over a 3 day cycle.

I would suggest you keep the routine going through the day because even over 4 days people will need the rest. Being macho and falling asleep on watch is jus bloody stupid, have a sensible routine and stick to it.

 

[allanc]

three watches

0000-0400
0400-0800
0800-1300
1300-1900
1900-2400
self rotating for two or three