Ever slept in the cockpit or on deck overnight ?

[Frogmogman]

In Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Turkey yes loads of times, it all depends on how loud the other half is snoring, it's quite nice waking up at sun up.

Tut tut. Particularly in places like the Greek islands, where being moored stern to the quay can be quite noisy, my wax ear plugs are one of the first things I pack.

I’d never dare to suggest that the senior management ever snores !!

 

[Stemar]

Under the cockpit tent several times. Unless it's particularly cold, it was Milady's favourite place to sleep on Jissel. We haven't got a tent on Jazzcat, so she hasn't tried it yet

 

[BobnLesley]

Regularly in hot places, anchored-off beyond midge/mossie range; even more often on ocean passages. It can be difficult to 'switch off' and sleep when you're off-watch, but during my own watches, when I know that there's someone trustworthy and responsible in charge , I could sleep for hours.

 

[dansaskip]

Lots of times, particularly singlehanded on ocean passages, like Daydream believer says it's easy to just sit up and look around every so often and you are more aware of any changes in conditions.

 

[Blueboatman]

Yes. Under way. I have a hamock that holds me firmly so I do not roll from side to side, thus waking me up. I place a sponge by the side of my head to stop it rolling. Every 15 mins I just raise my head, look round & crash back. It is also good for sea sickness as I can see a wide horizon & am sitting semi upright. Feet go into the cockpit. It is also nice in the harbour to sit & read & watch the world go by. My head just comes so the top is at deck level
View attachment 135363

That is ingenious
I modified the companionway to produce a flat step and sides 100mm wide comfortable enough as a chill night perch but your solution is .. elegance ?

There was a thread on here once where sitting “blocking” the companionway was roundly decried.
But not by single handed sailors!

I favour side dodgers too for night cockpit dozing (with alarm clock)

 

[capnsensible]

If you have dozy people in the cockpit whilst you are on watch, simply continuously trim the sails until they go below where they should be sleeping.

Accidentally dropping a winch handle on their crotch is effective and can repeated until they take the hint.

Don't try this if single handed or sailing with your partner though.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

The nearest I've managed , is to have the V berth hatch open so I can see the stars as I nod off. The Admiral however doesn't like it open in case of a low flying curlew or whatever entering the boat. Anyway . definitely on my list to experience this season.

BTW. It's worth setting the alarm for daybreak in the UK just to hear the dawn chorus. It's fantastic. You can they go back to bed again.

 

[SaltyC]

If fully crewed with trustworthy watchkeepers my bunk calls. Shorthanded, forward leeward corner of cockpit is my 'Goto' comfortable yet readily available if needed.

 

[Arcady]

At anchor, overnight in the Minquiers. A magic dark sky experience ?

 

[ryanroberts]

I was napping on my front deck solo back from Portland and ended up drifting into the firing range, oops. Slept out in a hammock a couple of times, we rarely get the overnight weather for it and you are freezing by 4am

 

[wrr]

Many years ago, my primary school-age son and I slept aboard a Drascombe in Newtown Creek. About midnight I was woken by the splash of oars, just before we were boarded by two youths clearly bent on mischief. My instinctive response resulted in both of the miscreants finding themselves in the water while I debated with them whether I should leave them to drown. Having stuck fear into them, I relented and hauled them aboard, thereby saturating our sleeping bags. Awoken by the fracas, a good soul rowed over from an adjacent boat and went off to fetch a parent of one of the wretches. This parent was appalled at their behaviour, loaned us dry sleeping bags and brought two subdued youths to apologise next morning.
The sad outcome was that my son was so affected as to never spend another night on board.

 

[Moodysailor]

Lots of times from end of May through June/July in the UK, when weather permits. Usually with a sleeping bag or blankets though. When the nights are short and the mornings are fine it's a joy to wake with the sun.
Have also slept on deck during the first beat of the round the island race to the needles in full waterproofs after a particularly heavy night on the red wine before! Not my finest moment....

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Yes. Quite a few times... Including Antigua in April, Greece in August, and Croatia in July.

In the UK... No, I don't think so.

Pete

 

[Poignard]

When I was in the un-air-conditioned HMS Gambia in the tropics many of us crew used regularly to sleep on deck, disturbed only by the occasional tropical downpour (take up thy bed and run!) or by he whose job it was to search for those who had to go on watch.

My next ship, HMS Victorious, underwent a major refit during which she had all her portholes removed and an air-conditioning plant installed. I joined her first commission after that which took her to the Far East. The new air-conditioning plant lasted as far as Gibraltar before it failed due to the temperature of the sea water being too high (the naval equivalent of the wrong sort of snow). That resulted in hundreds of us sleeping on the flight deck.

 

[franksingleton]

In the Med at anchor, even in a marina, when it was hot. I used a light sheet to cover against mosquitos,

 

[Yngmar]

On night passage it's my preference. Our centre cockpit is very safe and no way you can fall out (or off the seat, usually). Easy to do watch changes and look at blobs on the radar that confuse the crew, keep an eye on the sails and horizon when on watch. When motoring it's also quieter than below, and less stuffy on warm nights.

Never near land though. My blood type is apparently crack cocaine for mosquitos and I need to hide behind two layers of netting clutching a prallethrin canister. And apparently some people think it's okay to start making noise at 8am just because the sun's been up for several hours.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

On night passage it's my preference. Our centre cockpit is very safe and no way you can fall out (or off the seat, usually). Easy to do watch changes and look at blobs on the radar that confuse the crew, keep an eye on the sails and horizon when on watch. When motoring it's also quieter than below, and less stuffy on warm nights.

Never near land though. My blood type is apparently crack cocaine for mosquitos and I need to hide behind two layers of netting clutching a prallethrin canister. And apparently some people think it's okay to start making noise at 8am just because the sun's been up for several hours.

Do you have a sweet tooth ?
When I made an effort to stop maxing out on sweet treats I found they left me alone.

 

[guernseyman]

Not overnight, but once, after a prolonged night passage to the river Trieux, (no details), at dawn I picked the first free buoy and collapsed to sleep on a cockpit seat.

 

[nortada]

If so . What is it like ?

If yes, please state where and what month.

Like sex in a hammock, it has to be sampled to be appreciated.?

 

[Sandy]

One of the delights of sailing.