Online timer for 4 seconds
With the buoy number in view, wait through 4 seconds before writing it in the DOC log. That brief pause gives you a moment to hold the digits in mind while keeping your hands still, rather than looking down too soon and losing sight of the marker. It suits a clear, close buoy when the boat is moving steadily.
While you wait without starting another task, the countdown can be adjusted directly on the page if the conditions make the number harder to confirm. Glare on the water, rain, swell, or a partially obscured marker may justify a longer interval; a clearly visible number may need less. The setting should reflect the time required to read once, check once, and then record.
Before entering the buoy number, judge the interval by visibility and boat movement rather than forcing the observation into a fixed pause. If the number becomes certain early, keep watching until the signal ends and use the spare moment to verify it. If the signal arrives before you are sure, leave the journal entry open and repeat the observation with a longer setting.
Common questions
What could make this pause too short for noting a buoy number in a New Zealand DOC log?
Harbour chop, low sun, spray, or distance can make the marker harder to read before the signal. A longer setting allows another check without guessing at a digit.
What if I identify the buoy number before the interval ends?
Keep your attention on the marker and use the remaining moment to confirm what you saw. Enter the number when the signal sounds, unless the buoy has already passed from view.
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