Crew Brief
Oyster 68
Welcome to Matariki III. This brief covers the essentials you need to know before joining the boat for an offshore passage.
Matariki III is an Oyster 68 set up for serious cruising and passagemaking. She is a capable offshore yacht with a strong culture of safety, teamwork, and looking after one another.
Matariki carries the essential offshore safety gear:
No one goes onto the foredeck alone
No one uses the duckboard without two people on deck and a harness on
PFD and harness rules must be followed
Soft sea shoes or sea boots only
Watch the boom, power winches and running rigging
If in doubt, ask
Shout “Man Overboard”, hit the MOB button, keep pointing, throw the lifebuoy and Dan buoy, get help on deck.
Shout “Fire” and state location. Use nearest extinguisher if safe.
Alert skipper immediately. Stay calm. Assist with pumps and damage control.
Life onboard is collaborative. Everyone helps — whether that means helming, trimming sails, keeping lookout, washing dishes, or making tea for the next watch.
When underway, a formal watchkeeping routine is used. Watch handovers matter. Position, course, weather, traffic, sail plan, and anything unusual should be communicated clearly.
The best crews are calm, tidy, helpful and communicative. If this is your first offshore passage, expect a learning curve — but also expect moments of real satisfaction, teamwork, and beauty.