OK So what do you do on long passages to stay awake?

[Trundlebug]

Like Littleship, I too don't have any other option but displacement speed cruising.

Despite several day long sea passages I've never really got either bored or relaxed enough to fall asleep.
Another nervous type maybe!
In fact I never seem to have enough time, so the autopilot is essential to help me do everything whilst I'm:-

• Checking all the gauges and instruments, paranoid in case the temp is creeping up a bit, or an engine changes note a bit
• Keeping a lookout is a constant fascination, necessity and interest. Pots, ships, trawlers, other leisure boats, which course they're on, how fast they're going, what they look like, what type of boat / ship they are, etc.
• Wildlife watch - seals, birds, fish, (I've yet to see dolphins but if I keep looking out then maybe one day...)
• Aircraft watching - there's always some RAF activity over the Wash
• Course and position checking, and plotting every half hour. Writing it down can be quite a challenge in a rounded bilge boat in a bit of a swell!
• Visiting the heads
• Having a drink or snack
• Going out into the cockpit and taking some sea air
• Listening to CG transmissions and other VHF conversations
• Then it's time to do all the above again

When on earth do you find time to sleep?
It does sound as though your engines could do with a bit more sound deadening.
Noise can be very soporific; the quieter the boat the less tiring the journey.
Maybe you need an older boat; it'd put you more on edge

 

[longjohnsilver]

I've done 215nm North Sea passages solo but do not wish to thread drift.

Not like you Pete. How's the R75? Oops, thread drift alert!

 

[Nigelpickin]

I've slept in a variety of waters but currently the Sarinikos in Greece. Not so much narcolepsy as super chilled.
SWMBO has suggested taking dogs on board on the basis that they'll need to be watched constantly, by me not her, of course. However it will take a while to train them in watch keeping.

Dog watching certainly helps, having a bench seat at the helm for two adults and a Border Terrier was an absolute requirement for the new boat. We've tried to train him to keep a course but to no avail...

 

[Bertramdriver]

When on earth do you find time to sleep?
It does sound as though your engines could do with a bit more sound deadening.
Noise can be very soporific; the quieter the boat the less tiring the journey.
Maybe you need an older boat; it'd put you more on edge

The boat was built in 1980 for fin fishing off Florida. After 6 years of renovation I think I've touched every nut and bolt and metre of cable so I have faith in her. Driving around the Aegean areas we frequent the waters are usually quiet and we're usually far enough off shore to avoid the drift net fishermen. Detroits gurgle and purr at displacement speed, the sound is almost hypnotic, so doing the usual checks are no help when I know we're on course, the AP is happy and all the needles are rock steady.

 

[alt]

Switch from beer to spirits.. that'll perk you up... for a while

 

[simon barefoot]

Position the seat so that you can steer with your feet if you want to sit and feel awake, or stand at the helm without the seat in the way.