MASTERCLASS

On longer voyages, and passages with larger crews, a good watch system is essential to the efficient running of the boat. But the same watch system can also hinder good communication and sharing of knowledge leading to poor performance, technical problems being overlooked and at times a discord – even tribalism – among the crew.

These problems can all be avoided through efficient and well-planned watch handovers. Whether sailing double-handed or in a crew of 20, the time two watches spend together is critical to the smooth running of your boat and watch handovers should be briefed and executed in the same way throughout a trip. Crews should understand that allowing enough time for a handover is expected for both the incoming and outgoing watches, and arriving late for