Having too instead of sailing nonstop

Wansworth said:
Whilst on a passage say to the Azores is there need to sailnonstop why not heave too and have a sleep.
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Assuming we’re talking about “normal” conditions and not heavy weather, and you have a windvane or autopilot so you’re not tied to the helm when underway, what do you expect to gain from the heaving-to to make up for the lack of progress towards your destination?

The degree of need for lookout doesn’t really change between the two states given how slow the typical yacht is compared to commercial shipping etc. So if you’re happy to sleep for eight hours singlehanded on a hove-to boat, then you might as well do the same thing while still moving. If you’re not willing to take that risk while sailing then you shouldn’t be any happier doing so while drifting. You are in either case under way for the purposes of Colregs and required to keep a lookout; heaving to makes no difference legally.

Pete
 
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prv said:
Assuming we’re talking about “normal” conditions and not heavy weather, and you have a windvane or autopilot so you’re not tied to the helm when underway, what do you expect to gain from the heaving-to to make up for the lack of progress towards your destination?

The degree of need for lookout doesn’t really change between the two states given how slow the typical yacht is compared to commercial shipping etc. So if you’re happy to sleep for eight hours singlehanded on a hove-to boat, then you might as well do the same thing while still moving. If you’re not willing to take that risk while sailing then you shouldn’t be any happier doing so while drifting. You are in either case under way for the purposes of Colregs and required to keep a lookout; heaving to makes no difference legally.

Pete
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I agree and by heaving to you also increase the time you take on passage therefore the likelihood of a collision (although still very low offshore and away from main routes)
 
I have hove-to often when s/h, to sleep, because I could then sleep deeply, knowing I wasn't going to sail at 6 knots into a treetrunk, container or small fishing boat.

I really need a proper sleep daily, it needn't be for the regulation 8 hrs, half that prevents decline of my ability.

The worry about getting run down isn't really on my radar (!), I obviously wouldn't do such a thing in a busy area.

Heaving-to removes a lot of the risk, and I have an Echo max RTE to help ships avoid me.

So I'm in favour.
( Another thing, I believe peoples' worries about getting run down are often far in excess of the actual possibilty.)
 
On my trip across the Biscay I hove two just after midnight and had a nice sleep on the two nights I was sailing.A nice bright lamp in the rigging and head down.Besides after all the cost of getting the boat to the sea it seems a shame to rush the being on the sea bit.....
 
why not heave too and have a sleep.
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Can't see why you would, if the boat is happy then keep it moving. Makes next to no difference, assuming you're risk adverse and have a radar running with alarm & AIS alarm. Black night next to no chance you'll see any debris anyway awake or asleep, crewed or not.

Fond memory of down beyond the Azores having gone asleep becalmed to wake hearing a little chuckle of water along the hull, bit of wind and the boat had woken up itself, windvane pointing it in roughly the right direction. Well done girl! back to bed :cool:

Worth heaving to sometimes to make life easier cooking or sometimes for a slow reef of the mainsail, but just to sleep - never.
 
Ladybirdgaffcutter said:
GHA, fair one about seeing debris on a black night. An argument for heaving to from dusk til dawn ;)
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And double your time out there!!! Crazy, completely bonkers IMHO ;)

Anyway, solo much of the time you'll be down below once you get into it, especially when the sun gets higher. Sun and exposure up top takes it out of you, better to expend as little energy as possible for when you might actually need it. I find sleep happens when it happens, sometime stay up for hours in the middle of the night just watching the stars then catch up with snoozes during the day.

But number 1 - keep the boat happy and moving.
 
I thought that having a boat was for err being at sea in it...anyway Hiscock mentions that they hoveto whilst crossing the Atlantic to get a proper rest and the next day they felt refreshed and relaxed having enjoyed a night in!
 
Wansworth said:
I thought that having a boat was for err being at sea in it...anyway Hiscock mentions that they hoveto whilst crossing the Atlantic to get a proper rest and the next day they felt refreshed and relaxed having enjoyed a night in!
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Yes, but with good self steering/autohelms these days I just don't see the advantage and I sleep very soundly indeed when we are under way - and wake up if things change.
 
Heaving to for a swim in the Atlantic is quite pleasant when you reach around 20* north.

Not so good off the Galapagos on the Equator though, the Pacific there is flippin cold.

:cool:
 
capnsensible said:
Heaving to for a swim in the Atlantic is quite pleasant when you reach around 20* north.

Not so good off the Galapagos on the Equator though, the Pacific there is flippin cold.

:cool:
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Yes I have done that but becalmed rather than heaved too - land not too far away though, no more than two miles down
 
RupertW said:
Yes, but with good self steering/autohelms these days I just don't see the advantage and I sleep very soundly indeed when we are under way - and wake up if things change.
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Same here, certainly agree that any change in the boat sound / motion quickly brings me out of sleep.
If I can arrange to put myself on Starboard tack it also helps, as the saloon berth is on the port side :)
 
Minn said:
I sometimes heave to to cook, eat a good meal and wash up and put things away. I can certainly see the attraction of say seven hours straight sleep, just once or twice.
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I get all of that but why not do it, including sleeping, under way?
 
RupertW said:
I get all of that but why not do it, including sleeping, under way?
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If you have had some experience of unfavourable conditions, you soon find that heaving to can makes using the heads, getting some hot food and drinks inside you and the crew, washing up, making all secure after reefing etc. so much easier and less dangerous.

I often heave to for these reasons, for fairly short periods. Our boats have actually forereached slightly when hove to.

Lets face it-if we were in a hurry, we would certainly not be traveling by sailing boat!
 
rotrax said:
If you have had some experience of unfavourable conditions, you soon find that heaving to can makes using the heads, getting some hot food and drinks inside you and the crew, washing up, making all secure after reefing etc. so much easier and less dangerous.

I often heave to for these reasons, for fairly short periods. Our boats have actually forereached slightly when hove to.

Lets face it-if we were in a hurry, we would certainly not be traveling by sailing boat!
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I think I've had my fair share of horrible condtions and still prefer to do everything underway although I admit I don't enjoy washing up so much if beating into steep short waves, or corkscrewing downwind in confused seas. I guess I just like the idea that we are eating up miles with every hour and rather than wanting to sail slowly I enjoy being able to sail further in the limited time I have on board. Perhaps if I ever get to retire (can't see how or when) I will develop a different view.
 
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