longjohnsadler
Well-Known Member
Some people can fall asleep on long voyages, endangering their boat and crew. What measures do you take to keep awake on night watches?
Are you a psychopathic kipper?
- Thread starter longjohnsadler
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longjohnsadler
Well-Known Member
Bought my boat in Plymouth and 2 of us sailed it up to Dublin non-stop - 2 nights, 2 hours on, 2 hours off. Never again. Second night a seagull (I think) flew into the mainsail. Nearly shat myself.
bobfrost
Well-Known Member
Sailed with my son non stop Dover to Scilly in 2004. Best part of five days and nights. My wife claims that on arrival we both looked deranged! Can't think why. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
webcraft
Well-Known Member
damo
Well-Known Member
I am another egg-timer man. Surely it should only be an issue if single-handed?
michael_w
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Bought my boat in Plymouth and 2 of us sailed it up to Dublin non-stop - 2 nights, 2 hours on, 2 hours off. Never again. Second night a seagull (I think) flew into the mainsail. Nearly shat myself.
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Two hours off is not long enough for a decent bit of kip by the time you have had a bite to eat, navigate and wrestled with your oilskins etc. SWMBO and I work on a three hour cycle when at sea. Often ringing the changes with lie ins etc. Longest passage to date, 21 days. Wait till you get hit over the head by a flying fish, talk about a wake up call /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Bought my boat in Plymouth and 2 of us sailed it up to Dublin non-stop - 2 nights, 2 hours on, 2 hours off. Never again. Second night a seagull (I think) flew into the mainsail. Nearly shat myself.
[/ QUOTE ]
Two hours off is not long enough for a decent bit of kip by the time you have had a bite to eat, navigate and wrestled with your oilskins etc. SWMBO and I work on a three hour cycle when at sea. Often ringing the changes with lie ins etc. Longest passage to date, 21 days. Wait till you get hit over the head by a flying fish, talk about a wake up call /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
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In all seriousness I wear an egg timer around my neck.
Here
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And this is what it says on their site.
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Sixty minute timer with a good loud ring and magnet on the back
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For a bit of a dare, do you sit near the compass?
In all seriousness I wear an egg timer around my neck.
Here
[/ QUOTE ]
And this is what it says on their site.
[ QUOTE ]
Sixty minute timer with a good loud ring and magnet on the back
[/ QUOTE ]
For a bit of a dare, do you sit near the compass?
absit_omen
Well-Known Member
By day, fear. By night, terror.
claymore
Well-Known Member
I don't really see the need to keep these night watch things you talk about. In reality a 30 ft boat would make a small target so as long as you've set the autopilot onto the right course so that you don't hit anything - then leave plenty of lights on so that nothing hits you, you should be fine.
I also recommend a stiff shot of cocoa prior to retiring for the night and then you should get a good 8 hrs sleep which is far safer in my opinion than taking 2 hours with an egg timer around your neck.
On another relevant point - someone has alluded to an egg timer that runs for an hour. Personally, I like mine done for 4.5 minutes (large eggs). I realise that at altitude the same egg may take up to 8 minutes but you can always tell because they go dry quite quickly when you lift them out of the pan - anyway - there tends not to be too much altitude at sea level....
I also recommend a stiff shot of cocoa prior to retiring for the night and then you should get a good 8 hrs sleep which is far safer in my opinion than taking 2 hours with an egg timer around your neck.
On another relevant point - someone has alluded to an egg timer that runs for an hour. Personally, I like mine done for 4.5 minutes (large eggs). I realise that at altitude the same egg may take up to 8 minutes but you can always tell because they go dry quite quickly when you lift them out of the pan - anyway - there tends not to be too much altitude at sea level....
Peppermint
Well-Known Member
Re: I don\'t have a problem staying awake
during normal watch keeping with a crew, we just talk bollox all the way through.
If I'm alone on watch I listen to the radio or a story tape. If I get sleepy I keep busy, move around, do some steering. Sweet biscuits perk me up a bit warm drinks don't. If you find it's particularly difficult to get through your watch it might be that you need a different watch length. No two people are the same in this regard. On longer trips I quite often do two hours on two off at night.
You also find that some crew members are much more nocturnal than others. Use them mercilessly.
If I'm singlehanding then I'm not trying to keep awake so much as to find a reasonable sleep wake cycle for the conditions. Then it's an Egg timer for me. I set it at an interval that allows for me to travel about two miles.
I also do sums in my head to check I'm still working OK.
during normal watch keeping with a crew, we just talk bollox all the way through.
If I'm alone on watch I listen to the radio or a story tape. If I get sleepy I keep busy, move around, do some steering. Sweet biscuits perk me up a bit warm drinks don't. If you find it's particularly difficult to get through your watch it might be that you need a different watch length. No two people are the same in this regard. On longer trips I quite often do two hours on two off at night.
You also find that some crew members are much more nocturnal than others. Use them mercilessly.
If I'm singlehanding then I'm not trying to keep awake so much as to find a reasonable sleep wake cycle for the conditions. Then it's an Egg timer for me. I set it at an interval that allows for me to travel about two miles.
I also do sums in my head to check I'm still working OK.
fisherman
Well-Known Member
Re: I don\'t have a problem staying awake
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I also do sums in my head to check I'm still working OK.
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That's mine as well: constant recalculation of times, distances, averages, anything. Also try to run through half forgotten songs poems jokes as if to an audience. Tea, as a full bladder keeps you busy, but may intrude on your watch below.
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I also do sums in my head to check I'm still working OK.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's mine as well: constant recalculation of times, distances, averages, anything. Also try to run through half forgotten songs poems jokes as if to an audience. Tea, as a full bladder keeps you busy, but may intrude on your watch below.
powerskipper
Well-Known Member
I sing, its the only time I can and don't get comments like "shut the cat up will you " /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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