watchkeeping
with Teresa & Ben Carey | Morse Alpha ExpeditionsOffshore sailing is not just about steering the boat. It’s about managing people, systems, fatigue, and risk. Learn how professional watchstanding practices turn long passages into safe, efficient, and even enjoyable experiences.
What really happens on a multi-day offshore passage? What do you actually do all day and night out there?
This online class on offshore watch-keeping gives you a clear, structured understanding of how experienced sailors manage watches, crew dynamics, systems, and safety during extended passages. Whether sailing double-handed or as part of a larger crew, strong watch-standing practices are what separate stressful trips from confident, capable passage-making.
Drawing from real-world experience on tall ships, tugboats, yacht deliveries, and sail training vessels, this online class focuses on practical systems that work in real conditions.
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ONLINE COURSE OVERVIEW
Offshore sailing demands more than just boat handling skills. It requires preparation, routines, communication, and sound decision-making around the clock.
In this online class you’ll learn how to design effective watch schedules, maintain situational awareness, manage fatigue, run drills, and handle real-time decisions with clarity. We will walk through the systems and frameworks professionals use to keep crew safe, rested, and focused over multiple days at sea.
You will leave with checklists, practical routines, and a stronger understanding of what confident offshore watchkeeping actually looks like.
Who is this online class for?
This online class is designed for sailors preparing for their first multi-day passage, especially those who have never sailed overnight out of sight of land.
It is also ideal for sailors who have completed an overnight passage but did not feel fully safe or confident. Coastal cruisers stepping up to offshore sailing, owners and crew of small yachts, delivery skippers, and anyone responsible for watch planning or onboard safety will benefit from this structured approach.
If you want to reduce stress, increase safety, and make offshore sailing feel manageable instead of intimidating, this online class is for you.
What Will I Learn?
In this online class, sailors can expect to learn how professional watch-standing systems create safety and consistency offshore.
You will gain a practical understanding of how to organize watches, manage crew endurance, maintain equipment, document critical information, and respond effectively to changing conditions. More importantly, you’ll learn how to build habits and routines that keep your boat running smoothly 24 hours a day.
List of Topics:
- Personal safety gear and best practices
- Emergency equipment and response protocols
- How to run effective onboard drills
- Fatigue management and sleep strategies offshore
- Passage planning fundamentals
- Weather assessment and real-time route decisions
- Sail handling at night and when shorthanded
- Systems checks and preventative routines
- Logbook procedures and record-keeping
- Human factors and crew resource management
- Practical daily routines that improve efficiency
- Communication standards and smooth watch transfers
LEADING WITH CONFIDENCE AT SEA
From Long Nights to Clear Systems
Offshore passages are not just about steering the boat, they are about managing fatigue, communication, systems, and risk over multiple days at sea. This online class explains what truly happens during extended passages and shows how structured watch systems transform long nights into organized, manageable routines. You will learn how experienced sailors design watch schedules, maintain situational awareness, and create daily systems that keep the boat safe and efficient around the clock.
Turning Crew Into a Cohesive Offshore Team
Strong offshore performance depends on preparation and teamwork. In this online class, you will learn how to manage crew endurance, run effective drills, maintain equipment checks, and conduct smooth watch transfers that reduce confusion and mistakes. Drawing on real-world professional experience, this seminar provides practical frameworks that build confidence, accountability, and consistency during multi-day passages.
Confidence That Lasts Beyond the Horizon
Designed for sailors preparing for their first offshore passage or seeking to improve previous experiences, this online class replaces anxiety with clarity. You will leave with practical checklists, repeatable systems, and a clear understanding of what confident offshore watch-keeping actually looks like, allowing you to approach long passages with structure, composure, and control.
YOUR HOSTs
TERESA & BEN CAREY
Teresa Carey and Ben Eriksen Carey are seasoned maritime professionals and co-owners of Morse Alpha Expeditions, a renowned coastal and offshore sail-training program.
Teresa is a US Coast Guard licensed captain, educator, and accomplished media producer. Her experience includes captaining diverse vessels—schooners, motor yachts, sailing yachts, and even a lobster boat—and teaching for sea programs like Outward Bound. Teresa’s solo offshore sailing and her work as a science journalist, and experience teaching high school, college, and on-the-water enrich her teaching with practical and scientific insights.
Ben holds a 200 Ton US Coast Guard Master's License and a 500 Ton Mate of Towing credential. His extensive maritime career spans schooners, tugboats, sailing and motor yachts, with expertise as captain, mate, and beyond. A lifelong waterman and marine biology graduate, Ben brings a deep understanding of seamanship and safety to his instruction.
Together, Ben and Teresa have sailed thousands of nautical miles, co-founded Morse Alpha Expeditions, and produced engaging sailing media including podcasts, like the Morning Muster Sailing Podcast, and documentaries. Their combined hands-on experience and passion for education make them exceptional instructors for this navigation rules online class.
ONLINE CLASS REGISTRATION
@ 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET (90 min)
Regular Price
$39
ASA Member Price
$29
ON-DEMAND ACCESS
All registrations include unlimited on-demand access to the recordings of the live online class. So if you are unable to attend live you can still register and watch at your leisure.
ASA MEMBER DISCOUNT
American Sailing Members can claim their discount in the Member Portal. If you're not a current member then for only $59/year you can join or renew today!
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