Ireland to Maine

About assuming things. I think you'd do well to look back at who you were quoting. That was Capt. J. I'm the one who see's no problem with you doing this and in fact have pointed out your qualifications from your post #11 to others here. My only question was if you'd be better off doing the northern or southern route. Apology accepted.

Got your notification AMB10s. Don't worry, these guys are thick skinned. We move on quickly.

Welp, that doesn't match the USCG safe manning requirements in regards to sleep. We've all done those watches of 4 on 4 off, ok to do for 1 day, maybe 2 days. NOT able to do for 7+ days safely while rolling around in the Atlantic.

What exactly are the "manning requirements" for a couple cruising on their own boat in international waters? I've done a 100 hour shift running launch on a cable job. Coasties had no gripes, OSHA had no gripes. I've done 15 hour shifts for weeks at a time cleaning oil spills. Same. Only grumbles were the payers cause I was getting time and a half.

Since you are both USCG 100 ton master Captains, see (B):

"§ 15.1111 Work hours and rest periods.
(a) Every person assigned duty as officer in charge of a navigational or engineering watch, or duty as ratings forming part of a navigational or engineering watch, or designated safety, prevention of pollution, and security duties onboard any vessel that operates beyond the boundary line, as described in part 7 of this chapter, must receive -

(1) A minimum of 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period; and

(2) 77 hours of rest in any 7-day period.

(b) The hours of rest required under paragraph (a) of this section may be divided into no more than two periods in any 24-hour period, one of which must be at least 6 hours in length, and the interval between consecutive periods of rest must not exceed 14 hours. "

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/46/15.1111

And again, how does that relate to a couple cruising on their own boat in international waters?
(§ 15.1111 Work hours and rest periods.
(a) Every person assigned duty as officer in charge of a navigational or engineering watch, or duty)

The last time I "assigned duty" to my wife it got very lonely around my house.

I learn fast. lol.

Yes, safe manning regulations don't apply. However, the principles still do. I think whether one realizes it or not with no sleep periods over 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 hours there will be an affect over many days of that and that could at some point impair alertness. It's amazing how much more rested one can be with a crew of three vs. two. I'm not going to say to you not to do the 4 on, 4 off, two person rotation, just that I would not. In fact, if I was going with two only (which I wouldn't) I'd probably try to do rotations to allow longer periods of sleep.

At age 61,I can’t do more than 4 hrs of 4 on 4 off without a serious diminution of my faculties. With 3 people, 3 on, 6 off or 4 and 8, I seem to be ok.
Best,
Maldwin

For the sake of argument how about the OP does shifts of 8 on / 8 off or 12 on / 12 off. That would put them into full compliance for the legal eagles here. Or how about they just find the schedule or non-schedule that works for them. As for going across the pond and hiring a 3rd off the dock as I've seen so many actually do, I've done multiple weeks at sea with strangers more times than I can count. There were many times I was tempted to drop them over the stern and I'm sure some have felt that way about me. It's far worse and more tiring (and possibly dangerous) to have the wrong person aboard than be short-handed.