Author: Klara
Date: 17.11.2022
Position: Atlantic Ocean, on our way to Tenerife
Nautical Position: 36°078`N; 010°30.2’W
Etmal: 1809 NM
 

One of the hardest things to do on the „Pelican of London“ are the watches, which everybody has to do, without any excuses. The one but not only question now is: What exactly are those watches and what are we doing during them? Feel welcome to this daily report and enjoy it.

First of all, there are three watches: Fore-, Main- and Mizzen- Watch.
These three watches are separated in A‘s and B‘s. The reason for that is our school system. Four hours per day we have school and on top of these four hours we are on watch. So, all around the clock the ship has people, who are steering, do a lookout and make sure the ship is safe at all times. In that case, five to six people always have to stay on the bridge. One person has to steer at the helm (steering wheel) and one person has to stay on each lookout (port -> left; starboard -> right). Two random chosen people are “allowed” to clean a section on the ship.

Helming

So, what to do on the helm? After you asked for the permission to take over the helm at the course … you take place behind the wheel. While you’re steering, you’re responsible for everyone and the ship. The steering influences the seasickness and how long it takes us to reach our next stop. So, the mood on the ship depends on the quality of steering. But the main task is to stay on course which is more or less hard. It depends on the weather conditions and swells etc. – usually you’re getting relieved after 30 minutes. So that was the first of three jobs to do on watch. The two other jobs are basically the same just on two different sides one on port and one on starboard. It’s a really relaxing job to do, you are just looking at the horizon and if you have spotted a ship you have to tell the captain or whoever is in charge at the moment. The tricky part is how to tell because you have to describe where the ship is. With the help of the points-system it is easily done. All around the ship is divided into four quarters. Each quarter is divided into eight parts, we call these points. One point is approximately one fist’s width. The watch-leader is the person who is organising who is taking over, which position and who is cleaning.

While you are on watch fashion is important, obviously one style has carried through to look stunning on watch: It is important to wear a harness, which is a piece of critical safety equipment… sexy we know!

Time for Some Shanties!

To keep up the motivation and fun during the watch, singing shanties is an old tradition especially on a sailing ship. So, we are not allowed to sing every song because of the history or the function of the shanty. One example is “Leave her Johnny”. This shanty is sung when somebody is leaving the ship.
In my point of view, “Hanging Johnny” and “Whisky Johnny” are the most popular shanties but let us ask the others:
 
Paddy Lay Back 4
Spanish Ladies 3
Roll the Old Chariot Along 1
Whiskey Johnny 4
Rolling Down to Old Maui 4
The Last Shanty 1
Here’s a Health to the Company 2
Hanging Johnny 6
 
Franzi M. greets her Mum
Klara greets her Family of course, and Nina meine Chaya, Kondominik, Entschen Kanisterkopf Giambazamba, Lamschen und Lou Mimmi schöner Name süßer Name!!