Systems & Procedures

Crew Duties on Passage

Watch schedule, on-watch duties, log fields, and captain duties.

Auto-synced from the crew's Google Doc — last checked Oct 15, 2026. Edit the doc and this page updates within a day.

Crew Duties on Passage

Schedule

  • Schedule - Be 5 minutes early for shift. We can discuss - here is a draft..
  • 5 shifts per day (all times LOCAL) - we will adjust clocks every 15 deg longitude. 5 shifts mean the 4 of us have a different shift each day
  • Shift Order - Bell, Wiktor, Karolina, Steven Eder - repeat..
  • Dinner - full crew - weather permitting - each day at 18:00

AM - 6 AM to 12 noon

  • Navigation Lights OFF ?
  • Morning Weather and Plan briefing
  • Walk deck (weather permitting) - inspection
  • Dump shit tanks - make sure you are not making water.
  • Dump Grey water tank
  • Morning Crew update email

Afternoon - 12 noon to 18:00

  • Walk deck - inspection (weather permitting)
  • Tidy Cabin - Vacuum floor if necessary (weather permitting)
  • Check engine room - oil on floor? Water in bilge? Funny sounds?
  • Evening Weather and Plan briefing
  • Cook Dinner for 6 PM CREW dinner

Evening - 18:00 to 22:00

  • Navigation Lights ON?
  • Stay on board

Night - 22:00 to 02:00

  • Stay on board
  • Maintain course +/- 10 degrees

Sunrise 02:00 to 06:00

  • Stay on board
  • Maintain course +/- 10 degrees

When on shift

  • You control music
  • Log once per shift all things - try to do one hour into shift for consistency
  • Clean and tidy lines at the end of your shift for handover
  • Stay on board

Log items - I will have a book to keep this info

  • Position - Latitude and Longitude
  • COG - course - where the boat is going
  • HDG - Heading - where the boat is pointed
  • Boat speed
  • SOG
  • TWD
  • TWS
  • AWA
  • AWS
  • Sea conditions - swell direction
  • Boat Configuration
  • Charging ?
  • GenSet Hours
  • Yanmar Hours
  • 48 V %, Amps
  • 24 V %, Amps
  • Water Tanks - %
  • Diesel tanks - %
  • Any problems / issues

on Watch >>

Stuff to do and things to remember:

  • REEF early - before you need to. No speed records desired.
  • LISTEN - any new sounds? Is the prop shaft spinning? Is the water pump on? Any flapping or banging?
  • Get help if you need to go on deck
  • Strap in with bad weather - Life Jacket and Harness
  • Strap in on deck at night - all weather - always have a 2nd crew assist before going on deck at night
  • Batteries - charge 24V at 50 % to 100% - with 48/24
  • Batteries - charge 48V at 25% to 100% - with genset
  • Water - H2O for tanks - make water when both tanks under 40%
  • Water - Port and Starboard tanks - switch when below 40% - log the switch
  • Fuel - Diesel - 3 tanks. Keep CTR tank above 40% and below 80% - balance the other two tanks.
  • Fishing - pull lines on board in poor weather / heavy seas - no fun pulling in fish in bad conditions…
  • Autopilot - When the autopilot is switched off, the helmsman isn’t suddenly confronted with the full rudder torque, but has to put loading on the wheel to equalize the forces so the clutch can disengage, making the manual take over much safer.
  • Tank Levels - check - Don’t overfill shit tanks

Captain duties

Weather

  • check 2X per day - 1, 3 and 10 day outlook
  • Discuss with crew - 6 AM and 6 PM each day
  • Use MWXX service (ocean crossing)

Route

  • Review and update route plan each day
  • Discuss with crew 6 AM and 6 PM each day - details including next desired waypoint, why?, desired course,
  • Review charted obstacles
  • Review Ship traffic expected next 6 hours - long view AIS from Predict Wind
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