Singlehanding - Sleeping - Good Idea?

[liberty16]

Recent sleep research (I heard on the news) found that interrupting the circadian rhythm for extended periods of time leads to greater rates of cancer in human beings. Nature intended us to be awake in the day and sleep during the night. Not conforming with this is without exception harmful to the body.

[Reality Check]

Too much sex causes cancer, too much rich food causes cancer, too much poor food causes cancer, too much sun causes cancer, too much computer time causes cancer, life causes cancer....

Never take these "studies" at face value. Most are not actual clinical studies but statistical studies where they analyze data for trends and analyze them. Using these methods it is obvious that the main cause of divorce is marrage... it is common in almost every case...

Indications do exist that excessive stress over long periods of time are harmful and may possibly manifest in many forms. However in single handing on a long passage.... I do not think the risk of Cancer is of primary concern, even if your stretched out nude on a raft. The main concern is mental acuity.

[Rez]

According to a recent state of California lawsuit about freighter pollution, there are "about 90,000" freighters world wide.

That's a lot of big heavy objects.

This is an interesting thread!:
Rez

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by Rez

According to a recent state of California lawsuit about freighter pollution, there are "about 90,000" freighters world wide.

That's a lot of big heavy objects.

This is an interesting thread!:
Rez

Well.....the ocean occupies about 140,000,000 sq mi of the Earth's surface. That makes about 1 freighter for every 1,555 sq miles of ocean. Now, I know that there are some areas of higher conjestion than others (usually closer to any large port). However, about 40% of freighters are in port at any one time. That would leave about 54,000 ships at sea or 1 every 2,600 sq miles.

The chances of being run down at sea are about the same as shooting an arrow into the sky and accidentally hitting a bird or 2 people rolling BBs across a gymnasium floor (blind-folded) and hitting each other.

I just don't feel very threatened. I have made many-many long ocean passages and see less than 1 ship a day, at sea and it is usually miles away because my tiny boat only occupies about .0000000000000000001.23% of the Earth's surface.

[SimonV]

Kanani, you have way too much time on your hands!!

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by SimonV

Kanani, you have way too much time on your hands!!

Ya.....I know....that's about to change thow. I have to go back to work tomorrow. I've been sick for the last couple weeks.

[Rez]

The couple who recently sailed the Northwest Passage successfully had four additional crew. They went 4 on 8 off. The skipper said that they really didn't see much of each other or talk much except at meals "because everyone was busy with their assigned jobs or asleep."

Seems a proper situation at sea, to me.

Rez

[Ex-Calif]

While I like Kanani's statistics, we can't understimate the density along known routes and near harbors.

It's similar to measuring the density of cars until you factor in that they all follow roads.

It's not something to lose sleep over <groan> but the risks need to be understood and managed.

[Seeratlas]

I knew a fellow who had a very nice radar installed that would wake itself up on a preset schedule, (I think he had it set for every 15 minutes or so); and scan then compare the scan to the one it had in memory from its previous 'wakeup', and if it anything new had showed up, scream like the dickens and wake up the ship's crew. If the scans showed no change, then the radar would go back to sleep and repeat the cycle. Once set up and serviced, I think this system would be of substantial benefit to any boat given the reduced amp draw and added safety. I've sailed with quite a few 'crew' that I would trust less than this radar I doubt I'm the only captain who ever came up to relieve someone on watch who was fast asleep

seer

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Seeratlas

I doubt I'm the only captain who ever came up to relieve someone on watch who was fast asleep

Oh man -- I was so incredibly unhappy -- same person time after time who just didn't care.

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by Seeratlas

I knew a fellow who had a very nice radar installed that would wake itself up on a preset schedule, (I think he had it set for every 15 minutes or so); and scan then compare the scan to the one it had in memory from its previous 'wakeup', and if it anything new had showed up, scream like the dickens and wake up the ship's crew. If the scans showed no change, then the radar would go back to sleep and repeat the cycle. Once set up and serviced, I think this system would be of substantial benefit to any boat given the reduced amp draw and added safety. I've sailed with quite a few 'crew' that I would trust less than this radar I doubt I'm the only captain who ever came up to relieve someone on watch who was fast asleep

seer

Most radars have a "Sleep" mode now.

They go on at a set interval and make a few sweeps. If they pick up anything "Heavier" than the preset density, the alarm will sound and it will stay live. If it see's nothing, it will go back to sleep.

I set mine at 10 minutes and a 6 mile radius. It goes off several times a day/night and 90% of the time it's a false alarm. The rougher the seas. the more false alarms. Breaking seas will set off the alarm unless the sensitivity is set way low.

[Seeratlas]

Kan, the diff is that this one stores the previous sweep in memory, then compares the new one. Lots better than the preset density types and if the sea state deteriorates, its wakes you up to take a look at that also.
In some ways, better than a set of sleepy eyes..

One other thing I've had on board that is nice is a set of night vision goggles or the less expensive cam corder looking version. For really bad visibility conditions, it rocks the house. Very inexpensive also.

seer

Originally Posted by Kanani

Most radars have a "Sleep" mode now.

They go on at a set interval and make a few sweeps. If they pick up anything "Heavier" than the preset density, the alarm will sound and it will stay live. If it see's nothing, it will go back to sleep.

I set mine at 10 minutes and a 6 mile radius. It goes off several times a day/night and 90% of the time it's a false alarm. The rougher the seas. the more false alarms. Breaking seas will set off the alarm unless the sensitivity is set way low.

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by Seeratlas

Kan, the diff is that this one stores the previous sweep in memory, then compares the new one. Lots better than the preset density types and if the sea state deteriorates, its wakes you up to take a look at that also.
In some ways, better than a set of sleepy eyes..

One other thing I've had on board that is nice is a set of night vision goggles or the less expensive cam corder looking version. For really bad visibility conditions, it rocks the house. Very inexpensive also.

seer

In an open seaway, I don't see the advantage of storing "an image". Every image will be different even if there is nothing out there, especially on a sailboat where the horizon is constantly changing. Maybe I'm missing something.

The "Sleep mode" radar are far superior to human eyes (or dependability). As you mentioned. It only sleeps for set amounts of time and sees far better/farther than any human. We set ours and go to bed (if we are 100+ miles from any land). We still get disturbed if the sea is rough but I feel that our sleep is much better quality sleep because I don't feel like I have to be "prepared" to wake up any second. In fact, I would seldom leave my bunk to check the horizon because I could see the radar screen from my bunk. Even If I see a ship on the screen, I can track it while laying in bed. Normally, it would be heading in some un-threatening direction.

It will also pick up squalls before they hit you "un-announced". You can track the squall to see if it's going to be a problem or not. To ME......this is essential for crossing the ITCZ. The squalls will keep you taking down sails and hoisting them back up every hour, if you can't track them. If you can track them, a slight course change may do the trick.

[luckyjack77]

i want to buy a wind vane self steering gear and would appreciate any help in my decision. my vessel is 39 feet and full keel. about 18000 pounds.

[svbeausoleil]

Dear Lucky Jack,
I love wind vanes. They are much better than automatic pilots, given wind. I circumnavigated once with a Navik on a 24 footer and once with a hydrovane on a 41 footer. Both were great. The hydrovane didn't oversteer as much but that might be because of the boat. Read about these at:

education.of.a.falcon - Â*Â* Â*Â* The Education of a Falcon

The first bit is totally free.

I like the hydrovane better as it can be used as an aux. rudder, they tailor each one to fit your boat, and it is extremely robust.
Hope this helps,
good luck, Your boat doesn't have to be perfect to leave.

Capt. Mike