The standard five watch positions are:
Helm: The student mans the whipstaff in the helm hutch to steer the ship under the command of the Quarter deck. If the ship is anchored or docked, the student has the hour off.
Lookout: The student stands at the fore mast on the foredeck, scanning the waterway ahead for traffic and potential hazards, calling back what they see to the Quarter deck. This is necessary because, due to the method of construction of 17th century vessels, the Quarter deck officers' view directly ahead of the ship is obstructed by the foredeck itself. If the ship is anchored or docked, the student has the hour off.
Galley: The student helps prepare meals, clean dishes, and otherwise assist the ship's cook as needed. This duty continues whether or not the ship is underway, since the galley is always active throughout the day.
Fire and Bilge: The student regularly patrols the lower decks of the ship, searching for potential hazards to the ship: smoldering fires and/or rapidly rising bilge water. We've never had a fire or flooded deck on the Half Moon, and these constant, preventative patrols help ensure that we never do. This duty continues whether or not the ship is underway.
Maintenance: The student helps with whatever regular maintenance tasks that may come up. The primary chore is to clean the head, which we do every hour. As one might well imagine, with two dozen people using a single bathroom, it's crucial to keep the head spotless. This duty continues whether or not the ship is underway.
On this Voyage of Discovery, since Starboard Watch had only five students, we modified the duty roster slightly, combining fire & bilge and maintenance into one position. This way, the members of Starboard Watch could still enjoy an hour off during their shift.