The Watch
0 BELLSStand
your watch.
A routine kept the way a ship keeps time: in order, on the bell, and finished.
Pick a watch and press Start. We call each step, keep the clock and ring you through, one bell more each time. Your hands stay busy; the bell keeps count. Eight bells and you're done.
I · The watch bill
Three watches. Pick yours.
Two a day and one a week. Each runs in order, a product to a step, with the clock and the bells kept for you.
II · Your kit
Fit out the Morning Watch.
Switch the optional steps on or off and choose between the alternates. Your kit is kept on this device for next time.
- Steps
- 6
- Minutes
- 4
- Long steps
- 0
01 · Face wash · 1 min
Shipshape
Nº 01 · Clarifying Face Wash · $36
Massage a little over damp skin. Rinse warm, pat dry. Before everything else.
Standing order02 · After the shave · 20 sec
Afterguard
Nº 31 · Aloe & Tea Tree Face Gel · $36
A generous dollop on freshly shaved skin. Clear of the eyes and any nick. Cool, calm, done.
03 · Face mist · 15 sec
Spindrift
Nº 02 · Prebiotic Face Mist · $34
Eyes closed. Mist from arm's length. Let it settle. No need to rub it in.
04 · Vitamin C serum · 45 sec
Morning Colors
Nº 03 · Vitamin C Serum · $58
Press two or three drops into clean skin. Sunscreen later today is a standing order.
Standing order05 · Eye cream · 30 sec
Weather Eye
Nº 12 · Peptide Eye Cream · $44
A rice grain, tapped along the orbital bone. Ring finger. It's the lightest hand you have.
Standing order06 · Moisturizer · 45 sec
Squared Away
Nº 07 · Oil-Free Zinc Face Gel · $48
Smooth a thin layer over clean skin. Let it sink in before beard oil or sunscreen.
Standing order07 · Beard oil · 30 sec
Fair Winds
Nº 16 · Fougère Beard Oil · $38
Warm three to five drops between your palms. Work it down to the skin, then comb it into shape.
Morning Watch
6 steps · 4 min
III · For reference
Why bells, and why eight.
Not for want of clocks. A bell is a time everyone aboard can hear, below decks and aloft, without looking up from the work.
Admiralty reference plate
Ship's Bells
and the watches of the day
Struck each half hour · eight to the watch
Fig. 1
The bells of a watch
A watch is four hours. One bell at the first half hour, two at the second, one more each time, until eight bells ends it. Then the count starts over.
| Bells | Called | AM | PM | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One bell | 0430 | 2030 | ||
| Two bells | 0500 | 2100 | ||
| Three bells | 0530 | 2130 | ||
| Four bells | 0600 | 2200 | ||
| Five bells | 0630 | 2230 | ||
| Six bells | 0700 | 2300 | ||
| Seven bells | 0730 | 2330 | ||
| Eight bells | 0800 | 2400 |
Struck in pairs: two quick strokes, a breath, two more. An odd bell rings alone at the end. Eight bells closes the watch and hands the deck to the next.
Fig. 2
The seven watches of a day
Five watches of four hours and two dog watches of two, from the Middle Watch at midnight round to the First Watch. Ours are in brass.
- IMiddle Watch0000–0400
- IIMorning Watch0400–0800
- IIIForenoon Watch0800–1200
- IVAfternoon Watch1200–1600
- VFirst Dog Watch1600–1800
- VILast Dog Watch1800–2000
- VIIFirst Watch2000–2400
The dog watches, hatched, make the count odd. The rota turns over each day, so no one stands the same hours two nights running.
Morning Watch0400–0800
The watch when decks were scrubbed and the colors made ready for eight o'clock. Our morning routine keeps the name.
First Watch2000–2400
The first watch of the night. Eight bells at midnight, and the Middle Watch takes the deck. Ours ends with lights out.
Sunday MusterWeekly
On Sundays at sea the crew was mustered and looked over: clean, shaved, kit squared away. Ours comes round once a week, too.