Snooze alarm for solo sailor

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jonjo

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Many years ago there was a thread on this subject but I cannot find it. What does the panel suggest using for a singlehander’s cockpit snooze alarm?

Is it still possible to buy those mechanical kitchen timers or would something waterproof, yachty oriented and very expensive be more suitable?
 
That's a good topic for the Jester Challenge forum!

I seem to recall that the advice from seasoned single handers is that you need several timers. Because sooner or later, your brain will start filtering out the alarm - then you switch to a different one with a different alarm.
 
Have a look on e-bay for an old Psion LZ64 organiser. They have 8 alarms, each of which can be set independently and repeating if you wish. There are 3 or 4 different alarm sounds as well.
You'll spend so much time setting the damn thing you'll never have the chance to sleep (only kidding. It'll do the job)
 
I use a cheap 60 min mechanical kitchen timer. The bell ring is so invasive that it has given me PTSD - I now jump whenever I hear a similar ring!

I figure that horizon to collision could be about 20 mins, so I never doze for longer than that.
 
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That's a good topic for the Jester Challenge forum!

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When did de Management sneak that forum in, what a pioneering bunch of sailors!

Eric from Paris on that forum (did he win last year) uses a soft alarm sound from his mobile phone and another alarm device as a reserve second stage backup.
 
What an excellent question. I always use my phone alarm set for fifteen minutes, but have never managed to sleep more than five or ten. The old mechanical timers strike me as an excellent idea.
 
A timing device that runs by clockwork, what ever will they think of next!
But can it really be reliable with no batteries or LCD screen.
 
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Never be at a loose end with the Yosemite bowline

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When should I use one?

btw where did you buy your cheap mechanical kitchen timer?

Anyhow I think I will need two, because over the years I have conditioned myself to sleep through 2 hours of Radio 4's Today program. I only wake up when some bleeding heart liberal says something outrageous.
 
Got the timer from a local hardware shop for a couple of quid.

The Yosemite bowline is an ordinary bowline but with the tail threaded through the knot. It is the BMC-recommended version for climbers because a) it never comes undone by itself b) it is slightly stronger I think, because there is more rope in the knot and the bends aren't so tight c) it is easily loosened after being loaded.

I ALWAYS use it in important situations eg genoa sheets, mast climbing set-up and of course when tied to a climbing rope!
 
I used an ordinary kitchen-timer, which functioned Ok during the night, but not in the early morning, when it began to be light. Then I did not wake up and slept for two or three hours. I think it is a good idea to use two or more of these alarms and set them about five minutes apart.
 
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