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.
--

Martin Smith, the New Conservative Party.

http://www.newconservativeparty.org

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.

Jim, wrote:

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.

The answer is: 1. set a radar watch within a prescribed distance, then
set the alarm; 2. crash.

--
Regards, Shane
"A closed mouth gathers no feet!"
Website: http://www.wonk.demon.co.uk/

Try to stay out of shipping lanes. Get a chart that shows where they are
and stay at least 20nm on either side. When your destination converses
maintain a good lookout. Don't worry about Merchant Vessels in the open
ocean, as they are on autopilot. Worry instead about fishing vessels a few
hundred miles from shore. Regardless, the odds favor you.
Worry more about semisubmerged containers along shipping routes.

"New Conservative" wrote in message
...
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.
--

Martin Smith, the New Conservative Party.

http://www.newconservativeparty.org

On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 23:39:41 GMT, 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.

Consider taking at least one other person as crew. It is far too
dangerous to have no one on watch. Do it safely or stay in coastal
waters and day sail.
The last thing anyone needs is an unmanned vessel at sea. I think
the "alone" racers should be banned.
And don't "drop all sail and just bob around ...". Learn how to
heave-to. But even a boat that is hove-to needs a watch.

Not sure if it's practical to set your autopilot and then set your radar to
issue an audio alarm when something comes within 10 miles or so.

Don White wrote:
Not sure if it's practical to set your autopilot and then set your radar to
issue an audio alarm when something comes within 10 miles or so.



Audio alarms for radar have a tendency to sound, based on "sea -
return", so many people all too often turn them off.
If you plan to singlehand, add an AIS with CPA alarms. No guarantees,
but coupled with radar, it might help increase your safety factor.....
course, this doesn't address the surfacing sub issue.......

nothing will be foolproof

On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 05:33:02 GMT, otnmbrd
wrote:

nothing will be foolproof

The problem with making something foolproof is that fools are so
ingenious.


Weebles Wobble
(but they don't fall down)

On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 05:33:02 GMT, otnmbrd
wrote:

Don White wrote:
Not sure if it's practical to set your autopilot and then set your radar to
issue an audio alarm when something comes within 10 miles or so.



Audio alarms for radar have a tendency to sound, based on "sea -
return", so many people all too often turn them off.
If you plan to singlehand, add an AIS with CPA alarms. No guarantees,
but coupled with radar, it might help increase your safety factor.....
course, this doesn't address the surfacing sub issue.......

nothing will be foolproof

The question was asked by an inexperienced sailor. There are many
expensive devices available, but there is nothing like a real "24 hour
watch". This skipper needs crew.

Remember a few years ago when "Coyote" ran into a fishing boat off
New England? That was Mike Plant, one of the most experienced
single-hand racers on the seas. His boat was commissioned with the
latest (and expensive) gear to make it as safe as possible.

"Around the world alone" is dangerous. Even if they don't care
about their own safety, they should not be endangering others.
Maritime regulations are specific about a constant, 24 / 7 watch.

This skipper needs crew.

Skipper wrote:
On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 05:33:02 GMT, otnmbrd
wrote:


Don White wrote:

Not sure if it's practical to set your autopilot and then set your radar to
issue an audio alarm when something comes within 10 miles or so.



Audio alarms for radar have a tendency to sound, based on "sea -
return", so many people all too often turn them off.
If you plan to singlehand, add an AIS with CPA alarms. No guarantees,
but coupled with radar, it might help increase your safety factor.....
course, this doesn't address the surfacing sub issue.......

nothing will be foolproof


The question was asked by an inexperienced sailor. There are many
expensive devices available, but there is nothing like a real "24 hour
watch". This skipper needs crew.

Remember a few years ago when "Coyote" ran into a fishing boat off
New England? That was Mike Plant, one of the most experienced
single-hand racers on the seas. His boat was commissioned with the
latest (and expensive) gear to make it as safe as possible.

"Around the world alone" is dangerous. Even if they don't care
about their own safety, they should not be endangering others.
Maritime regulations are specific about a constant, 24 / 7 watch.

This skipper needs crew.

My response was mainly directed at the post regarding radar alarms.
Although I strongly disagree with "single handing", especially on long
trips, obviously, experienced or inexperienced, people are going to do
it and they need to be made aware of the plusses and minuses of any
equipment they may incorporate to assist.
In the case of radar alarms, they are by no means perfect and neither is
AIS, but they both can be useful.

otn