Transitioning to longer solo trips

[GILow]

Ok, sounds like I am over thinking things again. The go for it approach has some appeal.

Regarding heaving/hoving (whatever) to.... what is the thinking regarding doing this and thus protracting the trip vs just plugging on. (This in the context of a very solid and seaworthy boat that really does sail itself once sails are set correctly.)

Matt

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Sorry, Bill, but if you heave to for 8 hours per day those 500 miles are gunna take some serious time to get done.

Very true..
Sleep underway with the AP doing the work.. a moving targets harder to hit..

[GILow]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Sorry, Bill, but if you heave to for 8 hours per day those 500 miles are gunna take some serious time to get done.

Hmmm.... simultaneous posts. I think I know where Mark stands on my question now.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Very true..
Sleep underway with the AP doing the work.. a moving targets harder to hit..

... and where Boatman stands. Really didn't need to ask the question in retrospect.

[Jim Cate]

As far as I can see, the chances of a random intersection of the paths of two vessels, well out to sea, are the same whether you are hove to or sailing along. Not true if you are on watch, of course, but if the vessel is "unattended" and not taking evasive action, doesn't matter if it is moving.

Jim

[Exile]

Originally Posted by bill martin

Matt, it's like swimming. You can jump in the shallow end or the deep end. A couple of practice runs might help but it depends on you. As I said before "Heave To" and go take a nap. "Single Handed Sailing" has a great section about heaving to. I don't remember the authors name off the top of my head. I'll go look it up. Attachment 133586

Author's name is Andrew Evans. He's here on CF and goes by the handle "foolish". His book comes well recommended.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

As far as I can see, the chances of a random intersection of the paths of two vessels, well out to sea, are the same whether you are hove to or sailing along. Not true if you are on watch, of course, but if the vessel is "unattended" and not taking evasive action, doesn't matter if it is moving.

Jim

I agree, Jim. However, people think they heave to and go to sleep for 4 hours, wheras if you continue sailing you still only do your 20 minute sleeps so u should be able to avoid other traffic cos you see them (cue, drum roll, yes, someone will say, but some ships go 25 knots )

[TomLewis]

After two hurricanes and a tropical storm, I am less into planning and more into getting on with it. Once the damage gets repaired on my boat, I am out of SC for awhile, solo or not. I tried to plan with help with watches and general sailing to take the boat south. With all that has happened, I really believe I'm going to take my boat alone down the coast to southern florida to enjoy the winter. You have to trust your instinct and experience at some point. You can plan to hell and back, but it will not go as planned.

As an engineer, I am anal about what should occur at every moment, but it has all changed. I will post the hurricane story when it becomes complete, but I haven't sailed this new to me boat yet and it's killing me. Take off and enjoy while you still have a boat.
Sincerely
Tom

[CoolBeans]

Maybe it is obvious or I missed it in a post. . .but are you guys going below to sleep or just kicking back in the cockpit? If in the cockpit, do you have the leeward side set up like a berth?

Thanks

[stillbuilding]

Some areas like inside the Great Barrier Reef and other coastal seas are simply not suitable for solo for extended periods - say more than couple of days. Verified by the number of solo sailors arriving with scrambled brains in places like Mooloolabah and Coffs Harbour.

As I age I need less sleep and usually wake every 2 hrs naturally.

Sleeping in the cockpit under the dodger makes snap watching easier - much more comfortable with this than down below.

Not recommended to start out tired.

[Snowpetrel]

Lots of good advice here so far. Its worth reading "chasing liquid mountains" by David Adams. I have a copy I can post to you if you need it.

I did lots of two handed offshore trips before I went solo. That way I was comfortable in all conditions at sea. The only new variable was being alone.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[GILow]

Originally Posted by CoolBeans

Maybe it is obvious or I missed it in a post. . .but are you guys going below to sleep or just kicking back in the cockpit? If in the cockpit, do you have the leeward side set up like a berth?

Thanks

FWIW, am yet to see a better setup for sleeping on watch than that provided by the deckhouse on the Swanson 42. 360 degree view from the beds, ability for a 6' plus person to sleep either side or even transverse if that's your thing. Plotter with radar and all instrument readings visible from the beds too. A three second scramble to the cockpit in those "oh Sh-t!" moments. There may be something better but I am yet to see it.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by stillbuilding

Not recommended to start out tired.

Hmmm... yes, I learned this the hard way.

[conachair]

A few random thoughts..
Leaving from a nice quiet anchorage is so much nicer than a marina - your head is already half way at sea. Go hide for a day or 2 to get lots of sleep and finish getting the boat ready.

I like a pressure cooker with a huge thick soup ready cooked tied down to the cooker. You can still cook other stuff but if you can't be bothered then you'll have a few days food easy to get, and just add stuff as it goes down, a slowly morphing dynamic recipe

Audio books on a phone /tablet and a little bluetooth speaker are great to pass the time in the cockpit.

Marine traffic historical page is a good way to see if there's any way to avoid busy patches of ocean.

[lifgun]

Conachair - completely agree with you.... Audiobooks, food, and a "how to avoid traffic" strategy is a good plan for to sail single handed !