@ 09:09 GMT
Position: 35º 11.415′ N x 65º 46.686′ W
Course: 142° true
Speed: 4.1 kts

Sailing solo one needs to take short naps instead of long periods of sleep, so that one can check on the boat and have a lookout for other vessels. We do have automated identification system (AIS) equipment which signals to other boats our identification, position, course and speed. But AIS doesn’t replace a lookout, constantly scanning the horizon for lights at night or peering through the fog for a shadow that could be another boat. Even with sleep training and careful monitoring, these short naps can begin to take their toll.

A tell tale sign of sleep deprivation is having hallucinations. I had my first yesterday. One was audio – I heard two people talking. Huh? Then as I closed my eyes to sleep I had the distinct visage of someone’s face but without discernible features. I thought I was awake, so I opened my eyes. The face was still there, very briefly. I then knew I needed to focus on as many naps as possible, to get caught up on sleep.

Overall the day was great. As I did one of my boat checks I paused to look at the endless sea around me – the sea is so blue once you are this far offshore! I had many good naps, lots of hydration and I began to feel hungry, something that had been missing so far in this voyage. In fact, freeze dried food looked appealing. For lunch I had chicken and mashed potatoes. It tasted really good. Then for dinner, Cuban coconut rice and black beans. Also nice. But I won’t become a freeze dried food lover.

The afternoon consisted of naps, tidying and preparing everything for the night so whenever I needed something I knew exactly where it was.

Tactically there is a headache ahead. The Bermuda high has materialized, meaning low wind. We all have software that can predict the fastest route, which is not necessarily a straight line. In the afternoon my software told me to take a long route to get there quicker. I checked again later and the suggested route is very different. I am going with my gut instinct on this one. Follow the tracker – short or long?

Through the night I put up the A0 headsail. This is for reaching up winds in light breeze. It worked wonders and for awhile this morning I was first in class. The Bermuda high has kicked in and I have 4 kits breeze at best. The key is to keep the boat moving.