Mary Doll - Day 13 - The Night Watch

Conditions continue to be bumpy and it’s sometimes difficult to sleep. It wouldn’t be true to say that we have settled into our watch pattern but no one is complaining which is always a bonus. I thought I’d share some insight into the wonderful world of watches.
We have two watch teams based on experience of crew and current conditions. Originally we went for the gender split Caroline and Letitia and then Derek, Lewis and Bobby. We take 3 hour watches the most important of which are in the hours of darkness but vigilance is required throughout the day.

After a week or so and with competent status fast approaching our skipper agreed that Caroline and Bobby take one watch and the Smiths the other. This helps with the sleeping arrangements and it also allows some flex to provide the skipper with some longer sleep times.

On the Smith watch, as there are three of us, we only have two on watch at any particular time. We are on 6-9pm, 12-3, 6-9am. Dinner is usually at 6 and it’s generally dark by 7.30pm. Derek has a lot more activity to do during the day, weather reports, radio calls etc so it’s important that he is as lucid as possible. He covers the 6-9pm shift and then goes to bed until 6am. I have the 6-9pm and 12-3 shift then go to bed and poor Lewis has to go to bed after dinner and then be up for the 12-3 and then the 6-9 am. After several days of this Lewis, who is generally most articulate, remarked on his sleep depravity which I took as a sign of his sleep deprivation. I do hope I’m right.

That was enough for us to switch the big sleep around across all 5 of us and we award it somewhat like a golden ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

On watch we mostly look out for other traffic but the changing weather conditions require a lot of reefing and sail adjustment. Everyone has their own way of staying awake but often the nodding donkey head appears and a watch partner needs to gently persuade the other to wake up, make some tea, stand up or walk around. Although a lot of biscuits and chocolate are consumed, just to keep us perked up of course.

So far all has gone well, may it continue so.

Letitia