Quicky
12 June 2019
Robert Coates
Quicky
Sunrise photo taken at 0538 25th May about 30 miles south south west of Start Point, with a ship just crossing the sun.
I set night watches from 2100 to 0900 for the three of us doing two rounds of 2 hours on followed by 4 off. Although this means a theoretical 8 hours in a sea berth it always works out less because of changeover time involving update on ship sightings, changes to wind direction/strength etc. Also if someone on watch has a problem I will be called to assist (assuming I’m in my bunk) wake up, life jacket/safety line on up into the cold and wind and then the reverse. (No need to sympathise, it’s part of the fun!)
During the off watch period the other two will change watches in the middle which although done quietly often wakes you up. The atmosphere on the boat during the night is somewhat surreal (I think that’s the right word) with only the red lights on over the chart table creating an atmosphere of a warship in action. It all generally works very smoothly but tiredness is always a factor (you CANNOT afford to fall asleep, especially in the English Channel.
An ‘incident’ blog will follow shortly for events in Pavoa and I hope the occasional ‘life on a yacht at sea’ notes will interest those not so familiar with long distance sailing.
Bye for now
Be good(ish)
Rob