T&T: Single Handed Watches, was Erie Canal Transit

[Scott E. Bulger]

Oliver asked:  It will just be my wife and I which means that all helm
watches fall to me

 

 

Scott shares:  Hi Oliver, I too covered most (95%) of the watch time on
Alanui during our transit from Seattle WA to the East Coast.  I don't know
the context of your question as it relates to the Erie Canal, but I can
share my experience covering the watches at night. 

 

First, I don't want to get into a discussion of how my wife should share 50%
of the helm duties, that's just not how we did this.  She did as much as she
was comfortable doing and we made our situation work.  When we had overnight
(or multi-day) passages I would try to get at least an hour or two of sleep
during the day, hopefully around 4 or 5pm.  This would enable me to wake
near sunset, a time that visibility actually can be challenging.  She would
make dinner, well more like a snack, because underway we don't cook much.
She would go to bed around 8 or 9 pm.  I could usually get to about 3 or 4am
without much problem, at least on the first night.  When I got to the point
I was starting to really need help staying awake I'd go down and wake her up
to cover then helm for an hour or two.  Prior to having her take the helm
I'd push the RADAR out to 24 mi and try to verify there weren't any big boys
out there, then return the RADAR to 3 miles and tune the heck out of it.
I'd make sure the night vision camera was running, the auto pilot was on
track and that we were right on course.  I'd do an engine room check.  If we
were in the company of other boats I'd call them and let them know we were
changing skippers so they could keep an extra eye out for us.  Sometimes I'd
reposition the boat to follow the lead boat, especially if we were in the
vicinity of long line fishermen.  I would sleep in the saloon, just a few
steps away from the helm.  If Marian had any problems I could be up there in
a matter of seconds.

 

We found that this worked really well for us.  I'd take the helm after
getting a few hours of sleep, then try to get a really good nap during
daylight hours.  The second night I would not make it to 4/5, but rather 3am
before needing relief.  The longest passage we did like this was 3 days from
Mexico to El Salvador, including crossing the Gulf of Tehuantepec.  

 

When we brought the boat from Panama to Key West I had a buddy fly in from
Seattle.  That was the first time I really experienced sharing the helm at
night.  It was an amazingly improved experience.  Dwight and I wouldn't
follow a rigid schedule, but rather simply see who felt like taking the
first watch.  When either of us got sleep we would wake the other and go to
sleep.  We had an amazingly relaxed passage.  When we arrived in Key West we
both felt 100% or better!  It was 1,113 miles over 6.5 days.  So, while
sharing a watch with another experienced skipper is clearly more relaxing,
its not too difficult to do 2 to 3 days with just a bit of help.  

 

When you say your going from E to W I couldn't tell if you mean the East
Coast to the West Coast, or simply the direction in the Canal?  If you are
talking about an E to W coast trip, you can do it with no passage longer
than about 3 to 4 days.  Off the top of my head I think the run from Key
West to Isla Mujeres or the Bay Islands of Honduras to Providencia would be
your longest, about 3 to 4 days.  We did have 2 knots of current pushing us
for 2 days of our transit, I can only imagine how much of a problem that
would have been if we would have been trying to fight it!

 

Anyway, I'm probably way off track with my response, but I thought it might
be helpful to know you don't have to limit yourself to daylight only
passages if you can just get a little help from the admiral!

 

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA

Currently at Zimmermans in the Chesapeake Bay

Alanui is for sale visit www.alanui.talkspot.com for info