Re: Night Watch Skills

[alan8376]

Re: Night Watch Skills

To a complete beginner who has yet to attend CC course, I often see in 'Crew Sought' adverts that 'night watch skills' are prefered.

What basic skills would one have learned when crewing at night to meet these rquirements? Please keep the replies simple as this is a genereal question and coming from someone who has not had the chance to do much sailing! Thanks!

 

[AIDY]

Re: Night Watch Skills

without stating the obvious, understanding of lights, knowing the difference between power, sail to super tanker or pilot boat all display different sequence of lights at night.

Knowledge of navigation marks cardinals and channel markers even light houses and sector marks again all display different lights.

know how to clip on, and how to where a harness line.

Ability to read a compass and nav instruments to sail the boat

you dont tend to have cabin lights on at night as it blurs your visiblity, cabins lights are normally dimmed or you have red filters in the lights.

If your on a night watch, i guess you would be on a passage of more than 24hours, depending on crew numbers you will be on a watch system of so many hours on and so many hours off watch. So the ability of adjusting to a set routine ie.. sleeping, cooking and generally mucking in - hopefully without getting sea sick.

 

[guernseyman]

Re: Night Watch Skills

Not sure I've seen the text book answer...let's grope a bit:
1. navigation light recognition
2. tidiness
3. night vision knowledge - use of red light, and of peripheral vision
4. ability to tie a range of knots in the dark

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Night Watch Skills

While I agree with all that has been said so far, everything looks different at night and also there is a tendency for the eye/brain to see things that aren't there. You really need to have an experienced person with you on your first night watches.

So when people ask for 'night watch skills' they undoubtedly mean that they want you to have actually stood night watches, not merely that you understand how to.

 

[alan8376]

Re: Night Watch Skills

Thanks for the info guys. Some skills I learnt driving without lights on exercise during my years in the army! Time to learn more!

 

[AIDY]

Re: Night Watch Skills

agree - it's a different world out there at night.

 

[tome]

Re: Night Watch Skills

One issue not discussed is how difficult it is to judge the distance off of lights. There's a natural tendency to think that, eg ships, are much closer than they are. A bit of experience helps and also tends to suggest that you will be less anxious and so less prone to mal de mer

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Re: Night Watch Skills

Knowing when to wake the skipper is an essential night watch skill.

 

[ColinHuggins]

Re: Night Watch Skills

Sorry Andy, HOW to wake the Skipper may be a skill, but WHEN should be following clear instructions.

I would add
Maintaining the Log and charted position
Knowing how to be sick and where (ie NOT on Log, chart or Skipper!)

And if all the above seems a lot to learn, remember that YOU will be in charge.
Well almost.

 

[Sea Devil]

Re: Night Watch Skills

I think most of the 'answers' expect a lot more of crew on watch at night than I do.

What I require is the abiltiy to 'read' navigation lights on other vessels - to know if the red, green and white(s) are aligned or nearly so, and to call me...Immediatly...

If its just one red or green on the horizon to observe them but not worry about them. If it is any light formation that seems unusual to call me....

Keep the boat on course.

Stay awake and keep a good watch.

Never to be afraid to call me if something 'odd' is going on so that I may sleep soundly.

That's it... works for me. I am the skipper and in the end it is my responsibility so if in doubt call me..

Michael

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Night Watch Skills

Michael, that's exactly what I do with friends and family, most of whom are not even boaty. You can't be picky, you get what comes!

But if I was advertising for crew (which I have done and this was the original question) then it would probably be for a longer passage and I expect the crew to be able to alter course for collision avoidance without waking me, preferably at night as well as during the day.

 

[franky]

Re: Night Watch Skills

After only one night sail my girlfriend /Top crewperson whose previous experience was a competent crew course and some serious day sailing suggested a night sail from Vivero to La Coruna (N.Spain) We set off at 1900 and by 2100 although not seasick I was definintely not feeling very well and spent the the next five hours curled in the corner of the cockpit.Carole woke me whenever she was unsure of what was about and I was able to get up have a look round ,tell her that she was correct to wake me and let her carry on.At 0300 she woke me and said that the bow had just disappeared in the foG which had just come down.
The recovery effect of an adrenaline rush certainly woke me up and I was able to take watch for the remainder of the trip arriving at La Coruna in time for a champagne breakfast.
WHEN ON WATCH DAY OR NIGHT " IF IN DOUBT SHOUT"

 

[William_H]

Re: Night Watch Skills

I would suggest that if you see an ad and you fancy doing the sail then apply. Just be honest with the skipper. Compatability and happiness at sea is probably more important than skills that you can later pick up.
Night sailing. Well you need to know the boat and where everything is in the dark. That comes from sailing in the day time. In a way the lights of other boats and Nav marks are easier to see at night so don't be afraid. (thats the skipper's job) Your job is to make sure you will enjoy the long voyage and do your best....olewill

 

[AlJones]

Re: Night Watch Skills

Hi Yaker

Great advice on here, no one is totally correct or incorrect, 'different ships different cap tallies'.

Time out there learning is the best way. You can learn whats what with regards to lights, and sound signals via the excellent RYA publications that are out there. However, I would say that actually being out there and experiencing it is THE way to go. Have a look at the RNLI web site, the interactive training is good fun.

We run a monthly sail across to France, Cameret or Brest and the like. Plus mile building passages down to Spain ( La Coruna), Gib, The Canaries where the crew learn watch keeping, Ocean navigation, Astro Nav, etc: We are just about to start our planning for another Atlantic crossing for next December, (2007).

Being ex-armed forces myself I have a large number of crew who are also ex or serving. They work well together, instruct each other in a way that they are used too. The one thing that I do stress is, I will never be able to sleep properly unless I know for a fact that the watch on deck will shake me if they are not sure of a situation. I don't do hero's.

I invite you to PM me and join us on one of our trips, as a learning trip.

Best of luck

Regards

Al Jones.