Chapter 2 · Lesson 2Practical demonstration · about 5 minutes
Look out properly
Keep an active lookout, make a useful report and follow the vessel's call criteria without waiting for a concern to become obvious.
Video coming soon
Look out properly — demonstration
In the video
- An active scan: near and far, ahead, astern and both sides
- A contact report somebody can use
- Saying when a range is only an estimate
From the captain
Before you start
Looking out is not the same as being outside. If your eyes are fixed on one yacht, one phone or one particularly interesting seagull, the rest of the horizon has disappeared.
By the end of this lesson
Report an observation early with description, direction, estimated distance and change.
See it
See it for yourself
Scan, report, keep scanning
Watch the scan go round the whole picture. Then tap a contact to build a report the officer can use.
Your report
“Small vessel, about two o'clock, roughly one mile, moving left to right.”
- What
- Small vessel
- Where
- about two o'clockclock face from the bow
- Range
- roughly one mileestimate
- Change
- moving left to right
If you know a bearing, use it. If distance is only an estimate, say so. Report early and let the officer decide its significance.
9/9Keep the whole picture moving: sight and hearing, near and far, ahead, astern and on both sides. The exact routine comes from the officer and standing orders.
Illustration · not to scale · clock directions and ranges are estimates · the officer and standing orders set the lookout routine
What to look for
Scan beyond the interesting contact
Keep sight and hearing active across the assigned lookout area. A single interesting contact must not consume the whole watch.
Mark estimates as estimates
A visual range guess and a measured range are different information. State the reporting convention and uncertainty so the officer can interpret your call.
The lesson
The lesson
- 01
Keep the whole picture moving
Use sight and hearing continuously. Scan near and far, ahead, astern and on both sides. Watch traffic, lights, weather, visibility, debris and anything changing around the vessel. At anchor, also follow the vessel's checks for position, nearby vessels, wind and ground tackle. The exact routine comes from the officer and standing orders.
- 02
Make a report somebody can use
Say what you see, where it is and what appears to be changing. For example: ‘Small vessel, about two o'clock, roughly one mile, moving left to right.’ If you know a bearing, use it. If distance is only an estimate, say so. Report early and let the officer decide its significance.
- 03
Set yourself up
Find and adjust the binoculars before you need them. Protect your night vision as the vessel requires and avoid unnecessary bright light. Know who to call, how to call them and the thresholds in the standing orders. If you are tired, unwell or unable to keep a proper lookout, say so before it becomes a hidden problem.
Where it goes wrong
A lookout notices a small unlit boat but waits to see whether it gets closer. By the time it is reported, the officer has less time to assess the situation. The lookout did not need to diagnose the risk. They only needed to report the contact promptly and accurately.
Your call
What would you do?
Pick one, then read the feedback on all three.
The situation
You hear a sound and see an uncertain light. You cannot yet identify the vessel or estimate its range reliably.
Take it aboard
Make three contact reports
Do this during your induction or first weeks, with the person responsible for your work.
Desk exercise
Use the report diagram or an agreed shore-side view without taking on an operational watch.
- 01Name what you can actually observe.
- 02Use the reporting direction agreed for the exercise.
- 03State range as an estimate if appropriate.
- 04Describe a change and continue scanning.
What a useful result looks like
- Direction is clear.
- Uncertainty is spoken.
- You do not give an unsolicited helm instruction.
Stop: Do not distract an active lookout or transmit practice calls on a live working channel.
Deckhand Foundation · Job card
Lookout report prompt
From the lesson: Look out properly
- What is seen or heard.
- Direction and convention clear.
- Range estimate labelled.
- Change described.
- Report acknowledged; lookout continues.
Practice report
Missing detail / feedback
Your vessel's procedures and senior crew come first. Nothing on this card is stored.
Quick check
Four decisions, then move on
This check confirms the principle. Your vessel's own induction still comes first.