How to use the online alarm clock
Before handing the boat over to the next person, set the alarm for 6:04 pm and explain what still needs doing at the lock. That gives them a clear cue to check the gates, lines and lock keeper’s closing arrangements rather than relying on a hurried verbal reminder. With 7:00 pm approaching, the signal marks the point when there is still time to get through without turning the handover into a last-minute scramble.
A signal needed for the lock should be tested while both people are still there to hear it. Set 6:04 pm briefly as a trial, confirm that the sound is audible from where the incoming person will be working, then restore the intended alarm if necessary. Check the volume and leave the browser running. The alarm cannot warn the boat crew if the browser has stopped running or the phone has gone to sleep, so use a separate alarm when missing the lock closure would leave no practical fallback.
Once the boat is through, avoid letting an early-evening finish drift into a much later night. Put ropes, keys and any wet gear away as part of the same job, then note only the tasks that genuinely need attention tomorrow. Finishing that small routine after 6:04 pm can preserve more of the sleep left before the next morning’s start.
Common questions
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
Does the alarm still work if I close the tab?
No. Everything runs inside this page, so closing the tab — or quitting the browser altogether — ends the countdown there and then. Leaving it open in the background is all it asks, and switching to another tab makes no difference.
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