Staying awake

[pugwash]

There was a fascinating report in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph by a woman who had taken a new American drug that kept her alert and active for 48 hours with no apparent side effects. The implications for cross-Channel sailing and similar two/three-day voyages are enormous. Personally, I'd be reluctant to subject my faltering physiology to such chemical stresses, but what are the best alternatives? What's the best way to stay awake on a long night crossing, possibly single-handed? And more important, how can you do it for the second night in a row?

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[jamesjermain]

I don't think many people can remain alert for 48 hours.

Best solution is probably to remain awake in shipping lanes, outside them in coastal waters, cat nap with an alarm clock set for 20 minutes dozes and the radar guard zone set to 4 or 6 miles.

I know people who sleep for an hour or two when crossing oceans but I wouldn't recommend in on a public forum.

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[Talbot]

48 hrs is relatively easy providing you are busy. It starts becoming very difficult after the 4th day! (providing you are young, fit, and used to going without sleep) . The older you are supposedly the less sleep you need - but that has not been my experience. There is a sleep deprivation experiment going on on the tele at the moment which should be of interest, but does not factor in the effect of a constantly moving boat (which in itself is very tiring).
During WWII there was a fair amount of use of drugs to extend wakeful periods for certain servicemen, but I believe that in line with my own experience (without drugs) the longer you stay up, the longer the period you have to have when you "crash and burn" - something my son is very very good at /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[Becky]

There is usually a payback period after using stay awake pills, so if this isn't the case, it is an interesting development worth following up. The alternative for me was on a 36 hour delivery trip where I got no sleep at all and when we were entering Falmouth harbour I clearly saw (and sailed through) a row of taxis parked across the harbour. My Brother-in-law who was Skipper, swerved around a non-existent rock on the way in so he was hallucinating as well. Scary condition to get into, not to be recommended.

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[webcraft]

Why is sleeping on a public forum so dangerous, James?

- Nick

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[charles_reed]

We used to use amphetamines

until they got a bad name amongst the quacks, due to bored housewives becoming addicted to them.

I suspect this is one of the same family and will soon be DDSAed

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[wpsalm]

not good sense to stay awake more than about 30 hrs. or the start of halucinations whichever come first...have found from experience its possible to sleep at night even with plenty of shipping around if you just stop the boat and turn on deck lights, speader lights etc. waiting until you are totally exhausted will cause you to sleep so deeply that you will be oblivious to approaching danger, changes in the weather etc. ...course there are exceptions fog ,lee shores etc.

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[ccscott49]

Re: We used to use amphetamines

we used to use them to stay awake for four days, when starting new directional wells, Only one directional guy on the rig in those days, now 12 on 12 off, sometimes.

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[charles_reed]

Hallucinations

Back in the 70's we came back from Salcombe to Poole - very slow trip in light airs in a 22' boat.
Got to Swanage and I swear I saw the lights of a 150' long seaplane under tow.

Turned out to be Swanage pier.

Ever since then I've had 40' kip in every 360', if by myself heave to or set the radar guard zones if single-handed. Found it's fine for up to about 48 hours.


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[Dave1258]

Heard on Radio 2 today about a big money game show coming on to our screens soon about ppl trying to stay awake for a WEEK no doubt we will hear more about it

<hr width=100% size=1>If you don't make mistakes, you aren't really trying.

 

[Joe_Cole]

Re: We used to use amphetamines

It wasn't an amphetamine, and it was claimed not to have an addictive effect. They also claim that there is no "high" with it (so no good as a "recreational" drug). In the article it was reported to be very good at keeping you awake...even though you knew you were tired! It was called "Modafinil".

It sounded as if it could be useful on long passages, but I don't even take an aspirin if I can avoid it!

Joe

PS I wonder what the affect of Modafinal and Viagra would be?!

 

[charles_reed]

Modafinil

Prescription-only, treatment of choice (with dexamphetamine) for narcolepsy @ 400 mg/day. Cost £8 per tablet.

Clinical trial reports 21% of patients suffered from headaches, nausea and anxiety.

Human usage too recent to confirm/deny addictive properties, none in animal studies. Longest observed trial 9 weeks.

Don't think I'll rush to get it for my night watches.

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[BrendanS]

It's already on. Started at the weekend. It's actually showing at this moment. Ch4 22:00 - 23:00

<hr width=100% size=1> I asked an economist for her phone number....and she gave me an estimate

 

[qsiv]

Too late - already asleep!

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[qsiv]

Re: Modafinil

400 mg is a hefty dose. As I recall dexamphetamine is an alternative to Ritalin, even allowing for body mass thats 10 times the dose sprog 1 is on, and even at the lower levels used for ADD there are side effects - but one of them is most emphatically difficulty getting to sleep - even at 20 mg. He was still up and about at 23:00 yesterday.

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[qsiv]

Re: We used to use amphetamines

Banned as a stimulant by IOC, used as an antidepressant, suppresses appetite, mood brightening - doesnt sound like one to experiment with too lightly.

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[brianhumber]

With the greater range of speeds in Shipping these days, not sure I trust the faster moving 30-40kt hares when they are trying to miss the 15-18kt tortoises to spot a little plastic duck like me.

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[jimi]

Re: Hallucinations

I saw a large breakwater mid channel once after 48 hours without sleep!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. when's that again, but ..

 

[wpsalm]

Yes oh course, takes a bit of confidence to sleep in areas of heavy trafic...but sometimes no alternative for the singlehander...from my own experience have found that a bright deck light, i.e. visible 5 miles is the answer.. as for fast moving trafic a bit disconcerting, for sure but am confident that they are keeping an extra sharp lookout in particular with other ships about.

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[Guest]

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