No one is on watch ! ?

Except possibly , someone who actually took the photo.

The vessel is under power, roller snarler is wrapped up tight, the Main, could be up, and being used as a steadying sail, Looks like calm seas and very little wind. Dink is and out board are safely stowed on deck, , and the auto pilot is engaged.

Unless, they have a mounted camera, that they can set for an auto shot in a few seconds, and then quickly lay down all relaxed and zoned out, and staged the shot, some one had to take that picture.

Also, I bet they have electronic warning systems to beep and squeek, if another vessel was to make a close approach.

We stand alert watches on all passages. Even the off watch is looking for traffic, or whales, or containers, and checking sail trim and headings, and wind shifts.

Standing an alert watch, sea story :

I was not on this particular Catalina Passage, but Erica ( skipper) and a crew of other sailing club friends. As usual, they were under sail, no engine running, silent passage under main and jib.

The four of them are relaxing in the cockpit. Now this is a mono hull sailing vessel, no radar, no GPS, no AIS, and no auto pilot, no moving map. Coastal piloting and seaman ship.

All of sudden, Erica spotted a Leviathon California Gay Whale about 75 ft away,


The beast was closing very quickly and headed straight for their Newport 30's hull at a perfect torpedo hit amidships. No escape .

Erica started yelling, two of her fellow crew leaped up with winch handles, ran up forward, and started pounding the side of the hull, making noise near the water line.

Immediately the whale was upon them, collision imminent mid channel about 15 nm from any landmass. Needless to say, that if the whale and boat impacted, that would have been a very serious situation, and possible loss of boat and perhaps lives.

Well , the whole crew is yelling and banging and making as much noise as possible.

BIG GRAY must have woke up, as at the very last second before impact, the whale dove under the boat, barely missed the keel, and in a short time, re-surfaced, and lazily went on his way.

All turned out well for all, the boat the crew and BIG GRAY. Also, no damage to the hull by the winch handles.

just one reason, we take watch standing seriously,

I suppose since that photo was posted, that the poster wanted comments, on WHO IS STANDING WATCH.

Hopefully, for the vessel in the photo, some one was.