Our student crew is divided into two duty watches, which in maritime tradition are referred to as Port and Starboard. Port watch is on duty from 6 to 12; Starboard duty relieves them from 12 to 6. Note that these times count for both A.M. and P.M., though we rarely work at night during Voyages of Discovery.
During a watch rotation, the members of that watch cycle through five crucial positions; the duty roster, kept posted on the orlop deck, always lets a crew member know if and where their presence is required. With five or six students per watch, the schedule may allow each individual student to get an hour off during their watch, though they remain on duty and need to be readily available on demand.
The five watch positions are...