Newbie Question - Sailing All Night

[BrinyDeep]

Newbie here. Going to purchase a cruiser in the next year or so, but just planning ahead. Say I wanted to cruise 500 miles over open ocean, how long would it take to get there, assuming average speed to be about 7 kts. Do you all sail all night, or do you heave to, and catch some Z's while you drift, or do you throw a sea anchor? I'm assuming going solo. Just curious what the standard practice is out there in the wide open sea.

[tommays]

Figure more like 5 kts If your lucky and theres really no parking

Most people will work out a sleep plan well before with NOT a whole lot of sleep

[cormeum]

It's really much better practice to have a crew and stand watches. "Parking" at night either by drifting or heaving to really cuts down on average speed as well as killing any chance of keeping a good DR.

[BrinyDeep]

Hmm.. I guess I'll just have to find someone to take along to stay up late at night with me and travel to some tropical location. Preferably female

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by BrinyDeep

Hmm.. I guess I'll just have to find someone to take along to stay up late at night with me and travel to some tropical location. Preferably female

Heh-heh. Now that's the way to plan.

[rockDAWG]

1. Be conservative at all time including speed. Think 5 kn instead of 7.
2. Sail thru the nite and sleep in the day
3. Think twice before doing solo
4. Think auto helm and radar
5. Be self sufficient and plan on no one will save your ass
6. Think redundancy
7. Do a shake down run
8. Have fun

I am sure many have other suggestions. Good luck and stay alive.

[Barquito]

It's really much better practice to have a crew and stand watches. "Parking" at night either by drifting or heaving to really cuts down on average speed as well as killing any chance of keeping a good DR.

... and probably is no less likely to be run over by a large cargo ship, and is not fulfilling your responsibility to keep watch.

[nolatom]

You'll sail all night. Staying awake and keeping a good lookout (especially around midnight and 4am when the ships are changing watch officers and not necessarily looking for you) are the main things. And the sails filled with wind will dampen roll and give you a much gentler motion when you're down below.

Only time you might heave to or use a sea anchor is if there 's a new landfall you don't want to approach at night. Then you might hang around away from the ship channel so as to make your entrance in daylight

[BrinyDeep]

Thanks for all your advice. This site is wonderful. Got lots of questions. Really getting excited about getting out there. Just gotta get the funds together.

Yep, I'm a planner. Got several cruises planned in my head already . Like the staying alive part best though. Gotta be safe above it all.

[jackdale]

One word - CREW

I would never consider a night passage without a crew and an appropriate watch system.