New Conservative wrote:
Hi all,

I haven't actually sailed a boat yet but plan to later this year. I am
therefore still a bit green when it comes to the intricacies of the
subject.
Say I'm keen to visit the West Indies and I'm leaving from say
Southampton, England. I'm on my own and will need to sleep every day,
even if only for a few hours. Is it safe to let a boat 'sail herself'
while I catch some shut-eye, or is this a no-no? Can it be done safely
or would I have to drop all sail and just bob around in the dark for a
while until I've awoken? Obviously it'd make for a shorter passage if
I could somehow keep going 24/7. And ideas? Thanks.

One of the many rules of the sea is to maintain a proper watch 24/7. I
don't know how the racer hotshots get away with it, but consider how far
a freighter can travel in an hour while you're napping. Yes their
supposed to maintain a proper watch also, but a little boat is hard to
see (assuming their looking) and a freighter is hard to turn, and has no
brakes.

Solo is Ok for day sailing, but that's about it.