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Old 30-10-2024, 12:28   #61
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

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Originally Posted by barcoMeCasa View Post
Yep, after a lifetime in live events where 50h shifts used to be regular you get to recognise how even more rubbish your brain is when tired than usual, write stuff down, checksheets for everything, open mind. Keep out of the sun, keep fed & watered. AIS & Radar alarms, opencpn is great for that.
Meditation helps as well to recognise & ignore that constant internal & usually wrong voice inside your head.

If you haven't the experience & practise it doesn't mean it can't be done, it's more likely your conformation bias taking control ( you are riddled with it like everyone else on the planet), learn to ignore that ego internal voice & be more logical. The wonderful Tim Minchin sums it up, far more important to take this onboard & constantly question everything than being able to tie a bowline behind your back.

Social media is in one way just a vast ocean of every human bias there is. Bring data & evidence to the party it just kicks in even more
Like I said -- if you are capable of keeping a competent watch with enough mental capacity to manage the vessel and whatever might happen, for 36 hours without sleep -- my hat's off to you. Those were my exact words.

I don't know you -- maybe you have super powers; maybe you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Maybe you're even an alien? That would be cool.

All I know is what I read, and what I've seen in my inherently limited, narrow life experience.

What I've read is that 24 hours without sleep typically produces severe cognitive decline similar to being very drunk, like having a 0.10 blood alcohol level (which is definitely no condition to be in charge of a yacht in heavy traffic). See e.g.: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-00188-8

I've also read that going 24 hours without sleep causes permanent brain damage equivalent to a year or two of normal brain aging; see:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/b...ages-the-brain

And in real life, I've seen a number of cases of otherwise smart people, doing extremely stupid or dangerous things, after pulling all nighters, and without realizing the extent to which they had impaired cognitive function.

For that reason, I man my boat in a way that people (including me) are not required to undergo severe sleep deprivation. On long passages i pay close attention to how each member of the crew is sleeping, and make sure everyone is getting enough. If necessary ordering people to go to bed, or rearranging watches where necessary. A top priority for me as skipper is making sure that the whole crew -- including me -- is in full possession of all of their mental abilities, in case these are needed. This is fundamental to safe and pleasant navigation. We were seven when we crossed the Atlantic last year.

Don't get me wrong -- I love single handing. In fact my last two passages a couple of weeks ago were single handed -- back and forth across the Sound between Denmark and Sweden. But I don't think it's a good idea to push yourself beyond what you can do with your full mental capacity. The sea is an unforgiving element, and can kill you in a minute, if you are not sharp enough to deal with a sudden emergency.
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Old 30-10-2024, 13:23   #62
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

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Originally Posted by Dockhead View Post
If someone on here can go 36 hours without sleep and still maintain a competent watch; my hat is off to them.
In my experience 36 hours is still doable if you optimize the daylight usage, meaning that you spend only one night at sea. It's the second night that makes you fall asleep involuntarily. But of course it's about the definition of "competent watch" and how one's able to live up to that standard after say 35 hours...
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Old 30-10-2024, 14:11   #63
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

Mikko said, in post #1: "All tips are welcome!"

And he's certainly had tips galore including the ones from barcoMeCasa which I, for one, have read with great interest :-)

At this point I'd be very much in favour of letting Mikko accept the tips he thinks valuable and reject the ones that are not to his liking. I judge he has enuff miles under his keel to do so sensibly.

I think this has been an entertaining and valuable thread, not so much, perhaps, for the old salts that roost here, as for the many noobs who happen by without speaking up :-)!

TP
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Old 30-10-2024, 16:53   #64
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

Another 'northern' option is to cut across Scottland using the Caledonian Canal. Beautiful part of the world!
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Old 31-10-2024, 02:51   #65
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

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Day sail down to Rotterdam then make the 125nm hop to Harwich/Felixstowe from there it can be easily solo'd all the way to Falmouth.
Just gotta think and plan like a single hander, not as difficult as many 'captains' unaccustomed to being crewless imagine. at that time of year you'll benefit from longer days dawn to dusk just don't hesitate to use the engine to maintain a steady speed of 5-6kts and you'll be able to cover stops from 50nm to +75nm apart in 12hrs.. more when one considers it stays light till at least 10pm and 0600 starts.
When you are near Rotterdam, it is a bit over 100nm to Harwich. This is a nice sail, but you are then in the midst of the traffic coming out of the Dover straight towards Rotterdam. You need to cut across either a bit north of Rotterdam, or continue past and then cut across.
Yet this is not really the route when going south.
From Rotterdam to Dover via the Belgian coast is only 115 nm. Rotterdam Harwich and Harwich to Dover is +/- 200 nm, so going straight to Dover is a lot quicker.
Sailing from Harwich to the Downs also takes you across the Thames estuary. You can cut across in places, but only if you know these waters, if not you need to go round the outside. See https://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/. Though this is a nice trip when you have the time to spend, it is definitely not the quickest.

From the Dutch coast it is easier to keep following the coast up to Cap Gris Nez. Time the transit to cross to the English side to coinside with the tidal current pushing you west, and you can legally (observing rule 10 to cross a TSS perpendicular) cross and end up past halfway between Dover and Dungeness.

That being said, the choice between going along the English south coast or taking the French side and cutting across to the Cotentin peninsula (Cherbourg) is very much dependent on the wind direction. Without knowing the wind conditions at this point, in general to the south the tidal currents are much stronger than along most of the English coast. The Solent (+ Selsey Bill), Portland Bill and the Lizard excepted, but these are short stretches each time. I like the push you get along the head of the Cotentin peninsula and then have the Alderney race take you quickly past Guernsey.
But it is a matter of personal preference whether you like the English versus the French side. Marinas tend to be a lot cheaper in France. The atmosphere/vibe is quite different.
Eastbourne and Brighton are just big impersonal marinas. Dover has a new marina taking away much of the historic feel of the port. But if you get further out, there are some very nice places to visit. Deal being a significant walk away over the White Cliffs. If you've never been, Dover Castle is a real Must. From the Solent onwards it gets better but it is still far too crowded in marina's to my taste. Inbetween there are some gems (Rye and little Hampton) but they have sills and you might have to dry out, which I can not do) Personally i start to really like the English harbours when reaching Devon.
The matter is different when day hopping. Along the English coast you can easily do this. Along the French coast you need to do at least one night sail crossing the bay of the Somme and the Seine. You can follow the coast but then any speed advantage compared to the English side is lost.
Yet if the idea is to get relatively quickly to Cap Finisterre and then on along the Portuguese coast to the Mediterranean, I do believe the French side is quicker.
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Old 31-10-2024, 03:47   #66
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

I will only add that since the UK left the EU, the British Border and Customs services have been very mean to sailors. I have this information first hand. There are detailed checks of the yacht, crew and documents (not nice). 99% of the crews (that I know) sailing from the Kiel Canal sail along the European coast, without crossing to the UK side.
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Old 31-10-2024, 03:50   #67
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

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Originally Posted by miru71 View Post
I will only add that since the UK left the EU, the British Border and Customs services have been very mean to sailors. I have this information first hand. There are detailed checks of the yacht, crew and documents (not nice). 99% of the crews (that I know) sailing from the Kiel Canal sail along the European coast, without crossing to the UK side.
Two years ago on the west side of UK no problem, fill the form in the web before arriving and border control might come a couple days later for a visit... or not.
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Old 31-10-2024, 03:56   #68
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

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Originally Posted by miru71 View Post
I will only add that since the UK left the EU, the British Border and Customs services have been very mean to sailors. I have this information first hand. There are detailed checks of the yacht, crew and documents (not nice). 99% of the crews (that I know) sailing from the Kiel Canal sail along the European coast, without crossing to the UK side.
I guess that depends where you clear in. We sailed to Shetland last May. Did the small craft form before leaving Norway. It failed to process. Had a chat with their techies, and figured out that it was due to the "Ø" in the vessel name. After switching that to "Oe" everything worked fine.

Then on arrival to Lerwick visited the Port Control, mostly to get a key to the boat club showers as the harbour office was closed, but also to see if there would be any formalities to deal with. Not immediately, so we sought out the closest pub.

Then next day had a short friendly chat with somebody from the Border Force, and that was it. We were told we were welcome to cruise UK waters for the next six months (we did three and half, though with a short interim visit to Ireland).

Though, detailed checks wouldn't be an issue either as long as your paperwork is in order. And why wouldn't it be? Any country can do a documents check if they want to. We've been boarded in Sweden and Spain (German-flagged boat).
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Old 31-10-2024, 04:01   #69
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

I have information from spring of this year.
The border guard checked every yacht. During the inspection they were very rude.
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Old 31-10-2024, 04:04   #70
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

I have nothing against detailed checks. I know that's their job.
I'm talking about the atmosphere and behavior of the border guards during the checks.
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Old 31-10-2024, 04:32   #71
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

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I have information from spring of this year.
The border guard checked every yacht. During the inspection they were very rude.
I can only add that since Brexit I've been across to England at least 12 times, and was never inspected. Once in Dover, Borderforce just walked by and looked into the boat from the dock, they did not come aboard. Sometimes it takes a couple of telephone calls to get clearance. This varies a lot. In one instance I got clearance even before leaving my home port.
We also sail in group (with our club) to England, and there also no-one was ever physically inspected.

Where did these inspections take place?
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Old 31-10-2024, 04:58   #72
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

Dover in May this year.
8.5 meter yacht, crew of 3.
The inspection lasted 4 hours.
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Old 31-10-2024, 05:27   #73
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pirate Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

I would not worry overmuch, some are Buggas to Brits as well.
Pulled into Gurnsey one Autumn and sat at a berth outside while waiting for the tide.. 30ft above I was being eyeballed by an old sod and another slightly younger both in uniform.
Sure enough an hour later they appeared alongside in a dinghy and the hassle started.
After checking my doc's they spent 5hrs ripping the boat apart and were really upset when nothing was found.
Moral of the story, have a shave and remove your Pakhol before tying up in Gurnsey..
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Old 31-10-2024, 11:04   #74
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

Might be just local s*it. Around Channel they must deal with whatever smuglers, drugs and traficking..
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Old 31-10-2024, 11:47   #75
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Re: Single-handed, North Sea and Channel

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. . . At this point I'd be very much in favour of letting Mikko accept the tips he thinks valuable and reject the ones that are not to his liking. I judge he has enuff miles under his keel to do so sensibly.. . .

Well, that's what he's going to do in any case! It's not up to us. We're just chewing the fat here.
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I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
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We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
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