AdventuremanDan sparks debate over how he sleeps on his yacht: Solo travel on a boat

A young sailor has sparked the debate after sharing a snapshot of the “shocking” way he manages to sleep while traveling alone on his yacht.

Dan, from New York, has been embarking on solo adventures since 2014 and has traveled the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

He refuses to use autopilot on his yacht and only gets 15 minutes of sleep when sailing alone.

The man hoists the sails and rudder, then lies down for 15 minutes to sleep before the alarm goes off.

Awake, Dan surveys his surroundings for other boats and debris in the water, checks that his navigation is on track, and eats a sandwich before turning in for a few more minutes.

The namesake ‘adventurous man’ is currently cruising the Bahamas in the Caribbean.

He was open about the ups and downs of traveling solo, especially when it came to finding a safe way to sleep.

“It can be quite boring at sea for long periods of time,” he wrote in a mail. Especially when I’ve been surfing all night and got beat up.

“Therefore, both for rest and for happily enjoying myself, I usually find a comfortable way to sleep while cruising, which certainly took me a while to master.”

Dan was especially concerned about hitting objects in his sleep because of the high risk involved.

‘The thought of hitting something could well be the end of my home, every worldly possession [I own]and myself.’

The traveler’s previous routine rarely changes when he is on a long trip.

Dan first sets course, trims his sails and trims them to close, and then locks the rudder downwind.

“I can lie down for a cozy, comfortable rest…for at least 15 minutes,” he said. “Then my alarm goes off, I check my surroundings for other boats and debris in the water, my sailing progress and current heading, have a snack, reset the alarm and repeat.”

The man revealed that his process recently took him through an 18-hour passage to St. Martin in the Caribbean.

“This is how I often surf when I’m alone,” Dan added after his explanation.

One woman was concerned about the sailor’s lack of visible life jacket in the photo, and wondered if she had a way to secure herself to the boat.

‘Tell me, do you have a little tie down or tied for yourself?’ She asked him. Hooked up somehow, somewhere, just in case a rogue wave comes.

Another man admitted that he might not want one for security reasons.

‘in the situation [Dan] get in, I’d rather not be tied down and go down with the boat if a rogue wave hits.’

Dan claimed that his ‘cat naps’ were preferable to autopilot because his method did not use electricity or force the autopilot’s motor and avoided a ‘creak’ of the moving rudder.

The man also shared that his bedding has never gotten wet despite several waves crashing just feet from his face.

‘It’s an exciting feeling – to be warm and cozy under [fleece] blankets, out of the wind, just inches from the water.

‘There’s no siesta like this on Earth!’

Many were captivated by Dan and his boating adventures.

“If you have a wind vane steering that I see you’re equipped for, and an AIS (automatic identification system)/radar alert, you’ll be safe.”

‘When the sails are trimmed and everything is balanced, you are set! People die on the couch too: life is for the living.

‘Way to go! 15 minutes is almost the time limit. A fast container ship will be right above you in 20 minutes from beyond your sight of the horizon.’

‘I could almost taste the salt spray. You really are living the dream. The fact that you know your machine and process so well is worth those happy power naps.’

But others advised him to take more safety precautions.

‘One of the first things you’re taught as a professional sailor is to keep a good eye and ear watch at all times,’ said one man.

Solo sailing is dangerous for this very reason. You can’t keep watch when you’re on the go.

‘Wow! As a professional sailor, I hope we never meet. Failing to keep a proper guard is criminal.