Before untieing the first line to start the ocean voyage to Bermuda, a data sheet and a watch schedule were created. The data sheet was created to make sure everyone learned as much as they could, as soon as possible about Wind Runner and the sea around her. The sheet allowed us to keep good track of the boat, the ever changing sea, our progress, and our resources, just in case. The sheet helped us keep the boat shipshape and helped us form the habit of checking, once, twice, three times, and more. The sheet was a supplement to the ship's log.
The watch schedule was created to make sure all crew knew what was expected, when. We wish we could share these documents but we can't figure out how to get them loaded on this blog.
The data sheet was kept religiously during the voyage to Bermuda. Each and every hour we checked, and we wrote down important facts and observations. On the way back, beginning in the heaviest weather we failed to take time to actually write things down every hour. However we found the habits had been formed, and checks were continuous.
The watch schedule was kept religiously except during the heaviest weather. The schedule worked great. Three hours on. Three hours off. With pairs keeping watch between midnight and 6:00 am. With four crew and the tandem watches, the time of day that each crew stood watch did not repeat for many days. During the heaviest weather, the schedule was modified so the boys kept watch three hours on, three hours off. The girls, importantly, watched out for and over the boys. This adaptation of the watch for a relatively short period kept anxiety as low as possible. It did put a bigger burden on the heavy lifters of the crew, but the extra burden remained very reasonable.
