That’s the same way I look at things.
On the round-the-world run I’ll often have new second and third mates. If I have a port call at Port Kalang and Singapore I’ll be up most of the day with agents and port officials. So the 12 hr run between the two ports I’d like to get a chance to put my feet up for a bit.
That means I have the to get the mates up to speed. Most of them have no or little experience handling the ship in heavy traffic or restricted spaces I start before the sea buoy leaving ports on the East Coast, give them the conn and watch them make the turn. For some mates it’s the first time they’ve done a turn except mid-ocean.
Then I have the Med, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf to get them up to speed.
At pay-off after a 90 day trip usually the second and third mates are ready to handle about anything.