Solo Sailing Sleep Pattern

[ussvdharma]

Anyone have suggestions for solo sailing sleep patterns....last trip was 36 days from mexican mainland to pearl harbor

susan ussvdharma w7kfi

[Coyote]

No suggestions, but you are my new hero.

OK, based on adventure experience I would say sleep as much as you can whenever you can. Nothing clouds your judgement like sleep deprivation.

[atavist]

agree... when offshore sleep when your tired... when coastal I try to do trips of no more than an estimated 36 hours alone, during this time I let myself slice sleep in the cockpit if in clear water and nothing in site but even that's a bit sketchy really.

[osirissailing]

I single handed for 9 years and equipped my boat with a very good reliable autopilot to steer, an electronic navigation system to tell me graphically on a chart where I am and which way I am heading, and a good radar that I run all thorugh the night that sets off an alarm to tell me whenever any other vessel or surface target is within 10-15 nm of me. Also I made the cockpit cushions deliberately uncomfortable so that after an hour or two I have to wake up and change positions.

I do not stay awake all the daylight hours but take forced catnaps so that my night time "naps" are short. Other alarms wake me up if anything threatens or changes.

[shanson]

Originally Posted by osirissailing

Also I made the cockpit cushions deliberately uncomfortable so that after an hour or two I have to wake up and change positions.....

Aha that explains the layout of my cockpit!

SHANE

[MMNETSEA]

"Also I made the cockpit cushions deliberately uncomfortable so that after an hour or two I have to wake up and change positions."

Some research studies have shown that the above technique will in fact result in sleep deprivation, resulting in the person actually increasing the need for sleep and therefore may be disorientated when awakened.

[Istioploos]

For whatever it is worth I have used most of these (not the uncomfortable cushions) for as long as 4 24hr periods without any difficulties. I am not sure however how they will work for longer time. I tend to agree with MMNETSEA that sleep deprivation may happen.

[osirissailing]

Having spent 40+ years in a "sleep deprivation" occupation I am accustomed to it. I always wake up groggy and disorientated whether on land or sea, which is why I have excellent electronic computer navigation systems running (at least two independent and sometimes 3). The primary nav system has a 22" monitor so that even without my glasses and glazed eyes I can see where I am and what is around me. Same with an independent large radar system (Furuno) which has a large screen and multiple EBLs to tracking targets. But as I get older I have altered my route planning to maximize daylight hours at sea and minimize night hours.

[babylonlarry]

When I started single-handed cruising, I would set an alarm at 20 minutes and for the first few passages always be too nervous to sleep. Once when approaching the N. Coast of the Dominican Republic I looked around during what should have been a sleep interval and saw a coastal freighter within a half mile.

After a couple of traffic-less passages between the Virgins and Venezuela, I got complacent and would sleep without alarm for an hour or two at a time, get up and look around, go back to sleep til rested.

On my last passage from VI to Florida, I did the same until reaching the NW passage in the Bahamas where I saw lots of commercial traffic. I did allow myself to sleep on that trip when I had a traffic free horizon and awoke to the sound of engines of a freighter on a reciprocal course way too close.

In the future I will heavily weigh visible and probable (expectable) traffic and not sleep when collision risk is significant (I should get a radar for guard zone alarm).

[alan]

I've used "speed naps" with a wind up egg timer set at 10 mins, tried it over a 3 day peroid, works quite well!

[Tailwalker]

Power naps - proven fact, rest your eyes set your alarm.

IT WORKS - sleep with one eye open the other closed NO JOKES... it works, this is the only way to catch up on sleep..not sleeping late or one hour more, NOT!! power nap works...

Been doing this since childhood. I Slept in school / when surrounded by boring people / unwanted guests / the Army / boardroom meetings with my eyes open...and got into trouble always.

THEM DO NOT EXCEED THE 15 to 20 min maker otherwise you start slipping into deep sleep pattern? Alpha State...

[MMNETSEA]

It is all very well being able to have shorts periods of sleep - when single handing. The most important factor is how alert and efficient will the person be when first awakened by what ever method. Will they be alert enough to deal with an on-board emergency ? Will they be alert enough to avoid a collision.

Some people can wake up and be almost instantly alert, whilst others are dozy for some time (it takes all kinds!)

Some training is desirable : eg to sleep in daylight hours (like a night shift worker on land who has to adapt and train his system) Industry has researched this subject carefully - proving that once a shift cycle has be successfully instilled, then it should only be varied slowly over a period.

[Tailwalker]

Luckily i fall into "awake and up then be almost instantly alert" morning person, that me,=,

[caddyspanker]

Definitely a brave man. While you can try all kind of suggestions no one knows your body and your mind like you yourself. Follow your gut. It seems that you have been doing really well so far.

[soberkiwi]

i never sleep for more than two to three hours, have a good windvane and electric auto pilot.\
also can set radar alarm , travelling in less congested seas and when doing coastal here try to stay further out. 36 days solo is a mision well done

[oldhairy]

Just an observation on RADAR alarms. At least some units have a guard zone of fairly limited depth of range. Maybe two cables at a 6nm setting
Small or weak targets might not show up until inside the guard zone. Not triggering the alarm.
Maybe an AIS transponder would be just as useful, and consume a lot less power.

[Istioploos]

I use both Radar (guard zone) and IAS alarms when solo sailing, especially at night. When sailing in non-congested areas I also set a regular alarm at 20 minute intervals and take a catnap.

In congested areas I do not sleep since distances there are relatively short and I can sleep after arriving.

[capta]

In my opinion, you should be answering this question, not asking it.
"36 days from mexican mainland to pearl harbor" solo?
I think you've pretty much done so much more than most on this forum, if not all.
I've only done a few k miles in short bursts & I hate it.
Good on you.

[Auzzee]

Solo circumnavigator Pat Henry who wrote of her experiences in Grace of the Sea, told me she could successfully operate by sleeping for 15 minutes in every 20. She had developed the habit and claims she would instantly awaken at every period, go on deck, check the environment, go back below and go back to sleep..instantly.

[haiqu]

Originally Posted by caddyspanker

Definitely a brave man.

Susan did this four years ago at 72 years of age. A very brave woman!

Rob