Standing Watch: Be Still, Observe, Take Action
by Lynne & Chris Morgan

On Malaika when it is just the 2 of us, circumstances dictate that we do 3 hours on and 3 hours off. However, having just completed a 22-day delivery with one extra crew, we preferred 2 hours on and a glorious 4 hours off. We start watches at dark: 7pm - 9pm is the first, and 5am - 7am the last.

Delivery sailing is different. Not really knowing the boat, and being 100% responsible for someone else's property, standing a vigilant watch is what it is all about. We have shorter watches for better concentration, and then there's no need for outer stimuli. No reading, as the lights effect night-vision, and no music, as the point is to be listening to what is going on around you.

Our watch requirements are:

Getting into the routine takes 3 to 4 days. Chris always battles to sleep in the day, so he takes longer, but once in...none of the rules apply. Life at sea is so simplistically wonderful - you realize that your whole world fits inside of the boat, and your main concern is for one another. I always feel that if Chris is well rested, then when the weather comes (and on delivery it always comes) he will have the stamina required to do whatever must be done - go up the mast; or down in the bilges; or worse still, dive under the boat. So when Chris is asleep at the end of my official watch time, I hold off on waking him, leaving him to awaken on his own. My watch might run over into two-and-a-half hours maybe even three hours. Not a problem. Time is not the issue, flexibility is.