For many sailors, crossing the Atlantic sits near the top of the dream list—an almost mythical undertaking that symbolizes seamanship, adventure, and the ultimate expression of self-reliance.
It is also important to remember you can change the watch schedule if needed. On one south bound trip, Hatteras to Florida, we started with 4 and four. As it got chilly we went to 3 and three. The last night before the cold snap broke we did 2 and 2 because the watch was wearing all their layers, wrapping in blankets, hot water bottles... and 2 hours was all we could take. Next morning it warmed up and we did 6 and six in shorts and tees..
Such an important comment!!! It took us way more years than I want to say to realize that we could shift things up not only from passage to passage but within the passage itself.
You should note that if you have to feed diesel directly from a jerry can you also need to feed the return into that jerry can or you'll run out of fuel very quickly. Ask me how I know!
Some great points in here. I'd quibble (hah) on only 2 points. I think offshore first aid falls pretty far down the "crew preparation" priority list; in fact, I'd put your top 2 (first aid and engine basics) at the bottom, with offshore first aid being last on the list. And on watch schedules. We're a crew of 2 on a 28' sailboat. We've swapped to a 6 hour schedule at night and find it works much better as the off-watch gets a very solid amount of rest. During the day we're much less formal or official about it. If the weather is bad, that changes to a shorter watch period; happily, most of our passages have not, as of yet, involved extended periods of seriously inclement weather. Talk to us in a year after we've done the notorious Tonga to New Zealand one.
Cool - thanks for the comment Nica! Good point about top of the list vs. bottom of the list, I didn't actually think if it as a priority list, just a list of let's just say equal importance. But I should be aware of how lists can be interpreted as a hierarchy. Noted!
We are a crew of two on a 56' monohull and opt for four hours, regular shifts day and night. Predictable and we get to choose when our personal strengths are-- I opt for the 4 to 8am sunrise shift, for example. Spent 3 days in 15 foot seas and it does, indeed, test everything you've ever prepared for or thought of...still love the life, of course...~J
exactly on the "choose your strengths" in terms of shift timing! We also opt for longer watches because Jeremy has an almost impossible time napping during the day, regardless of how tired he is, so it's imperative to me that he get a really solid stretch of sleep at night since I can catch zzs in daylight with no issues.
It is also important to remember you can change the watch schedule if needed. On one south bound trip, Hatteras to Florida, we started with 4 and four. As it got chilly we went to 3 and three. The last night before the cold snap broke we did 2 and 2 because the watch was wearing all their layers, wrapping in blankets, hot water bottles... and 2 hours was all we could take. Next morning it warmed up and we did 6 and six in shorts and tees..
Abso-smurfly! Adjust as needed for everyone’s safety. And sleep is a safety item.
Such an important comment!!! It took us way more years than I want to say to realize that we could shift things up not only from passage to passage but within the passage itself.
You should note that if you have to feed diesel directly from a jerry can you also need to feed the return into that jerry can or you'll run out of fuel very quickly. Ask me how I know!
How do you know? 🤣
Some great points in here. I'd quibble (hah) on only 2 points. I think offshore first aid falls pretty far down the "crew preparation" priority list; in fact, I'd put your top 2 (first aid and engine basics) at the bottom, with offshore first aid being last on the list. And on watch schedules. We're a crew of 2 on a 28' sailboat. We've swapped to a 6 hour schedule at night and find it works much better as the off-watch gets a very solid amount of rest. During the day we're much less formal or official about it. If the weather is bad, that changes to a shorter watch period; happily, most of our passages have not, as of yet, involved extended periods of seriously inclement weather. Talk to us in a year after we've done the notorious Tonga to New Zealand one.
Cool - thanks for the comment Nica! Good point about top of the list vs. bottom of the list, I didn't actually think if it as a priority list, just a list of let's just say equal importance. But I should be aware of how lists can be interpreted as a hierarchy. Noted!
We are a crew of two on a 56' monohull and opt for four hours, regular shifts day and night. Predictable and we get to choose when our personal strengths are-- I opt for the 4 to 8am sunrise shift, for example. Spent 3 days in 15 foot seas and it does, indeed, test everything you've ever prepared for or thought of...still love the life, of course...~J
exactly on the "choose your strengths" in terms of shift timing! We also opt for longer watches because Jeremy has an almost impossible time napping during the day, regardless of how tired he is, so it's imperative to me that he get a really solid stretch of sleep at night since I can catch zzs in daylight with no issues.
Lovely discussion! I love this.