I'm often asked 'what do you do about sleep?' when continually sailing and lets face it, my answer has changed quite a lot over the years.

When I was younger, I never used to sleep for very long at all, a few hours a night would do me fine. These days, at the grand old age of 27, although my bones are slightly wearier, I did recently make the long journey from Cornwall to Germany sleeping in two hour rotations non stop along the English coast, across the North Sea and to harbour.

In these instances, my mind always becomes enchanted with that of the whale, particularly the sperm whale and their gracefully suspended sleeping arrangements, hanging in the water.

Sperm whales are conscious breathers, meaning that unlike us, their breath is not automatic. They can never truly reach the depths of sleep without a part of their brain reminding them to do this. They will also maintain social contact while sleeping, and sometimes travel.

Sleeping in these rotations while sailing, I feel like I have some small understanding of the sperm whale sleeping.
 
This print will be hand finished in gouache, adding a bespoke and collectable touch to every order. The edition is limited to 75.  This print will arrive in your home accompanied by the hand written, signed story behind it.