Standing Orders for Crew

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sailingcatlady

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Can anyone point me in the direction of a useful list of standing orders? I've been compiling one (never had one before, I was usually a solo sailor!), but I'm sure there must be quite a lot of ideas out there which I haven't yet come up with.
 
My Canadian brother in law lives in a huge camper the size of a bungalow. When we visited he showed us where the loo was and said "We have a standing rule for use of the loo - no standing!" I apply that in my boat most of the time.
 
Mind the boom.

Don't fall in.

If I want something done, I'll ask. If I tell you to do something, rather than ask, then it's important to do it without question. Especially if the order is "duck!".

Coffee/milk/no sugar (edit for personal preference).

I assume you have the obvious ones about safety, flares, radio and engine.
 
Never shut the door of an unoccupied cabin at sea. I worry that something (sail in bag, worse - dingy in bag) will fall behind door and you can never get in cabin again.
 
This is one I prepared some weeks ago:-

SEA SAFETY, FLARE, VHF, & MOB Procedures

SAFETY
Know whereabouts of ALL safety equipment – below Starboard Berth. Watch out for the boom when tacking or gybing.
Wear Lifejacket if going on deck, when conditions are rough, or at night, put on Harness, hook on to yellow Jackstay or hook on to available U bolt whilst in cockpit.
Have Boarding Ladder deployed where it can be quickly released from the water.


FLARES
White Flares to warn other craft of your presence to avoid a collision
Red Flares to call for assistance - i.e. Mayday situations. Discharge flares, holding them downwind in a gloved hand away from the face.
Parachute Flares take above precautions, discharging almost upright but below cloudbase and slightly downwind.

VHF (Radio)
Switch on at Panel Switch Set on Turn to Channel 16
Increase Volume Adjust Squelch until just discernable
IF a dangerous situation i.e. life threatening, then depress mike key and make broadcast e.g.:-

“Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! This is sloop Little Madam, Little Madam, Little Madam, Sail No. C902 (if Mainsail deployed) Situated ……..(give Latitude & Longitude from GPS or your position relative to a shore feature e.g. approx. 3 miles South East of Dover Harbour)
We are/have (state the problem). Over” release mike key.
If no response, repeat after 2-3 minutes
If problem major, but not life-threatening, then replace “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” with “Pan! Pan! Pan!”

MOB (Man overboard)
Immediately throw lifebuoy, if the MOB is still near, retain the end of the line. Keep an eye on the casualty, then gybe or tack; if motoring, cut the engine by pressing the red button BEFORE the stern gets near to the MOB.
Secure the MOB to the boat by the lifebuoy line and manoeuver him/her carefully, to where the boarding ladder is situated; the boathook could be useful.

Altho' the font size was 14 and it was in Bold of course
 
How about this exchange, from a book I read recently?

An 18th century Royal Navy lieutenant, who had done something wrong, to his captain: "I thought I was acting for the best, sir"

Captain: "Thought, sir! And what business have you to think? If there's any thinking needs doing on my ship - I'll do it"
 
Twisterowner...you state the golden rule..I wish I had a quid for every time I have had to repeat "dont put drinks on the chart table"...and they still do it...and again I have to remind them, (and remain calm about it) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
When new sailors arrive on my boat, I say: This is the safety briefing. Do what I say and you should survive. If you fall in the water, it will be uncomfortable but we will pick you up. If you fall down the companionway it will hurt a lot more than you think. If the boom hits you, it can kill you! Enjoy your weeknd, now put the kettle on. I have not lost one yet!
Allan
 
This is going to seem awfuly anal but here goes.

We have laminated cards for a number of things. This is our "Ready for Sea" checklist

http://www.woodbridgecruisingclub.co.uk/readyForSea(4).pdf

There are also "ready to cast off" and "skipper overboard" ones plus one with the whole of "witchfinder" and the call sign spelt out phonetically (not that I don't know it - I just prefer to read it if there is a lot going on).
 
I ensure that my crew understand that the safety and comfort of the skipper is paramount at all times.

Should there be a problem they should rescue me first, and in doing so will be acting for the greater good. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Think the previous posts have mainly covered it, but with new crew, we also tell them not to panic if they have gone overboard whilst under sail and we appear to be going away from them. We need some sea room to drop the sails and come back for them!

Also, we tell parents if a child should go overboard, not to automatically jump in after them - they're going to be more useful onboard to point out exactly where the child is and help pull them back in.

On our boat, lifejackets are mandatory when at sea, though it's up to individuals whether they want to wear one if we're on the non-tidal Thames. We've not had anyone fall overboard yet
 
[ QUOTE ]
Never shut the door of an unoccupied cabin at sea. I worry that something (sail in bag, worse - dingy in bag) will fall behind door and you can never get in cabin again.

[/ QUOTE ]

How about making sure everything is stowed properly? I came through the close all water tight doors and hetches school but I suppose there are not many yachts around with watertight bulkheads these days.
 
All our cabin doors open into the main cabin, no problem with something falling down the otherside of them - just open the door and clamber over! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
whilst I agree with all that Noddy posted my own standing orders are;-

1) if you are worried about anything call me at once. I will never be cross if you call me.. I will be very upset if you do not call me and I loose my boat.

2) if you fall in the water you are dead. Almost impossible to find you in heavy weather, at night. You will not fall in when it is a dead calm. Wear your safety harness when ever you feel insecure. Always wear it at night

works for me...........
 
Thank you all very much. So much useful and helpful (as well as some comic!) advice. Now I can get busy typing up, printing out and laminating reams of what to do and what not to do. Am really grateful - some of you have gone to a lot of trouble with your answers and even the short ones have some good ideas. And I realise I, as skipper, must remember not to set a bad example when it comes to putting my coffee mug down on the chart table and especially when it comes to the smelling of roses bit. Maybe a bucket in the cockpit is the solution to that!
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you fall in the water, it will be uncomfortable but we will pick you up. If you fall down the companionway

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with MichaelE on that one - I tell people that if they fall in they are as good as dead.
 
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