Zaurak's Bimbling Blog

Zaurak's Bimbling Blog
Saturday 30th November 2019

The watch system aboard Zaurak

On Zaurak we keep a 24 hour watch for the following, in order of importance:

1) dolphin spotting
2) checking the fishing line
3) to complain / marvel about the state of the wind / sea / sail set up
4) to take down the cruising chute and pole out the genoa, then to take down the genoa and put up the cruising chute, then to take down the cruising chute and pole out the genoa, then... etc.
5) to beat the current watch record of 19 miles in three hours (jointly held by Claire & Adrian and Pete & Caroline)
6) celestial studies
7) other vessels that may impede our progress / run us down

What this looks like in practice is that we are paired up (currently: Richard and me, Pete and Caroline, Claire and Adrian) and each pair is on watch for three hours at a time, giving us six hours between stints. The watches are on a cycle starting at midday boat time, which is currently one hour behind GMT (our time changes back an hour every 15 degrees of longitude, next change will be at 30 degrees west). Watches taking place at different times of day and in different weather look very different.

-The sunny midday watch, limited wind-
It is difficult to tell who is on watch as most crew members can be found lounging around the deck, slathered in sun cream, books in hand. Intermittently, the more proactive crew members will arrive to hang out washed t-shirts and pants. At least three sudokus will be running at any given time, supported in large by Yael's on board sudoku book supplies. The sound of the auto helm can be heard as it lazily guides the boat through the water.

-The afternoon watch, fifteen knots of wind-
One of the crew on watch will be at the helm, trying to get an extra few tenths of a knot out of the wind. Intermittently, the wind will come around far enough for a moment long enough for someone to suggest taking down the genoa and putting up the cruising chute. A conversation ensues which ranges from a debate about the consistency of the wind direction and the general desire to get to St Lucia before 2020. Eventually one crew member starts hauling the cruising chute to the foredeck and crew members take their cue in the (mostly) seamless sail change routine.

-The 3am until 6am watch, medium wind-
Only the pair on watch are awake. The sound of an audio book can be heard coming out of the cockpit speakers and the eyes of the two on watch often lift to observe the gentle progress of the stars across the night sky. The sails are generally set and left to their own devices and the auto helm navigates through the dark. Intermittently, one of the more celestially inclined will identify a constellation and look up at what time Mercury should rise above the horizon. A peaceful and sleepy time.

Zaurak out.