Each leg of "The Race-1000 Miles" from Biograd to Lefkas has a distance of at least 500 miles. Unfavourable winds can add up to more. In addition, there are almost always sections with light winds, in which the Bavaria 45 Cruiser, with which the seven-strong YACHT team is starting, will only make little headway.
This makes it clear that three to four days are a realistic scenario, at least in the standardised Bavaria 45 class, in which the YACHT team is competing. So at least three, maybe four nights at sea, as the race only starts on Sunday at 4 pm. For a number of the sailors on board, this is the longest time they have ever been at sea without interruption. They have to manage their strength accordingly. This is only possible with watch schedules. But which models are the right ones?
Four wax variants in comparison
There are a number of decision-making aids when choosing a system. The first is the size of the crew. With a crew of two or three, you only have to worry about how many hours each watch should last due to a lack of alternatives, but with larger crews there is more room for manoeuvre. In The Race, the YACHT crew starts with seven people on board. The following models are possible:
Common ways of doing this include dividing the boat into two watches of two or three people each, or three watches if there are six or more sailors. Once the decision has been made in favour of the first option, these groups, usually called port and starboard watches, can be rotated every three or four hours. A so-called "cross watch" is then often introduced, which only lasts half the time, so the watch times of the crews change after 24 hours. The unpopular dog watch from midnight to 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning
3 or 4 a.m. is not "stuck" to one group for the entire duration of the trip. The disadvantage of such short watches: There is only a maximum of four hours' sleep at a time, and often even less due to changing when the watch changes. A fixed solution has the advantage that you can get used to your sleeping times.
The "Swedish system", which alternates between three shorter night shifts and two longer ones during the day, is also widespread. So-called rotating or rolling systems are also frequently practised,
sometimes also referred to as overlapping watch changes. In these systems, each man on board is on watch for four hours. They always overlap for two hours with the watches of other crew members, so that each crew member has contact with two other crew members during their four hours on watch. Advantages: There is no strict separation between the watches, which provides variety and is more communicative.
The three-watch system is still popular: the first watch is on deck, the second is on stand-by, i.e. still in their oilskins and usually busy cooking, dozing or similar, and the third is resting in their berths. The skipper and navigator are often jumpers in all systems, if the number of crew on board allows it.
Conclusion: Much need for dialogue ...
Which one will it be? There's a crew meeting with fellow sailor Jan at the weekend, then we'll vote. The decision also has to do with the personal preferences of the co-sailors: Some need long sleep intervals, others are happy with three hours in blocks. One is more of an "owl", so likes the late night watches, the other a "lark", so likes to get up early. All these things need to be taken into account. During the training night drive, the whole thing went in the direction of a Swedish, rolling system. We'll see.
Various organisational considerations for the night drive are also important. When will what be cooked and how, or will it be bagged food like at the Volvo Race? What equipment does everyone need? Headlamp, red light, personal emergency light for the lifejacket? How are you supposed to see the trim lines of the sails at night? After all, we are sailing a regatta! Light them up with a torch? Phosphorescent threads? Or even high-tech threads with lighting, like those available on the aftermarket? There will probably be one last chance to do a night sail before the race. The longer we think about it, the clearer it becomes that this would probably be a pretty good idea ...
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
