watch keeping scheme suggestions?

[whipper_snapper]

I am trying to work up a watch keeping plan for a 3 week open ocean passage with 4 onboard - skipper plus 3 reasonably able crew.

I prefer not to rotate times so that people settle in to a rhythm. But on the other hand I like the idea of a rotating 'standby, cook, mother' position. I think 3 hours at night is long enough for a single person watch. I can't think of an excuse for the skipper to be out of the rota for the bulk of the passage. I have been fiddling around and can't come up with anything very satisfactory.

Suggestions ?

Thanks

 

[KellysEye]

With three people we do 4 on, 8 off with two dog watches of two hours each between 16.00 to 18.00 and 18.00 to 20.00. This ensures everybody gets to see sunrise/sunset. It's not a bad idea to keep the skipper out when you have 3 crew. It allows you stand in if somebody is tired or seasick, handle the radio schedules, weather forecasts etc. Also maintenance. Don't underestimate what will be required - a long ocean passage is equivalent to 5 to 10 years sailing for the average boat.

 

[firstascent2002]

when I came across from st john last summer we were 4. 2 hours on and 6 off is about as about the most relaxed off shore sailing i've ever had. Everyone gets a bit of private time during the night watch. In the day, whilst the system is rolling on in theory. In practice no one is ever woken up from sleep to go on to watch in the day as there is usually someone else board anyway. Cook always washes up so that he / she is the only person responsible for their own mess. Cook also makes lunch the following day so if you want to do a potato salad etc then you can prep the previous night. We had 6 days when according to the log no one altered a thing. Playing increasing amounts of bridge to pass the time!

Have fun. When your done why not join the OCC?

 

[Talbot]

TCM had a good scheme, that was used in his ocean crossing recently, but although I saw lots of comments about how good it was, I never saw the original details of the scheme. I have toyed with a concept where
2 people per watch. watch length 6 hours . ist person on watch 3 hrs, 2nd person standbye, after 3 hrs you rotate. Standbye person does the household chores, is on call for sail changes etc, but otherwise can doze until their 3 hr on watch. After 6 hrs, the 2nd group of 2 come on watch. so each person gets at least 6 hrs sleep at a time, each person has a known call out person, etc etc. I am not convinced yet whether you have to swap who starts and who finishes each watch - keep meaning to draw it out on a timetable for consideration.

What I dont like is where you have very long night watches, or where night watches swap frequently so you cant get into a rythm.

Only thing I am not really happy about is the lack of interaction between the two seperate groups.

 

[BrendanS]

Wasn't it webcraft that suggested the scheme that tcm used?

 

[Guest]

After all the years in MN doing strict watches ... 4on 8off, 6on 6off, 12on 6off etc. etc. - I thought through the rotating system - so that all get to cook, clean ... day stints / night stints etc. Basically by the 3 handed swap. You set the 3 guys to split not 24 hours but 25 hrs ... with each doing 5 hrs - making 2 stints in 25hrs. As voyage progresses - they slot round so not one only does nights / days etc.
You as skipper look after all the stuff that needs such as logs etc. and also being on call like a ships master at any time that decision of vessel / master is needed.

It's my way ......... but many other ideas prevail ... BUT you have to decide at start and keep to it right from the start ... no first day all out and then all tired - Who's going to start it off sort of mess !

Good luck.

 

[Talbot]

Web or Zefender

 

[BrendanS]

ah yes, could very well have been Zef after his Arc trip experience.

 

[TigaWave]

If its an E-W or W-E trip the times will rotate as long as you keep ships time fixed. It works well, as what was the 2 am watch becomes the dawn watch so its something to look forward to.

With 4, I've done 3 on 9 off which was very relaxed and meant we were well rested when it got busy and needed more hands.

 

[whipper_snapper]

thanks for these comments. I would love to hear about the TCM/Zefender system if anyone has details.


I had not really thought about staying out of the rota myself with such a small crew. I have experience of bigger boats where skipper and 1st mate always stay out but cover for each other. I have sailed with smaller crews - 2 or 3 - where I have no real option but to stand a full watch. But it's interesting that several think the skipper should be out of the rota with a crew of 4. Any other comments on that issue ? My inclination is to stand a normal watch, I think driven by guilt!