Over the past few months I've started experienceing what is known as "visual aura" or visual migraine", taking the form of what is known as scintillating scotoma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scintillating_scotoma

Basically, it consists of a jagged, quite colourful, flashing and moving light field image that covers up to nearly the whole visual field. It's actually not at all dissimilar to the sort of effects seen when using psychedelic drugs such as LSD. The one I'm experiencing at the moment started as a barely visible distortion in the centre of my vision and has spread over the past 15 minutes to cover most of the right side of my visual field. Thankfully, I can at least partially touch-type.

I've never experienced migraines in the past and I don't get any migraine pain following these incidents, as some do.

Has anybody else experienced this sort of thing? It's quite disconcerting and makes it very hard to drive, since the scotoma tends to make it hard to concentrate on moving objects, as well as obscuring part of the visual field.

I'm also a little worried, since this the frequency seems to be increasing, as does the severity.

Anti are you for real, get to a doc asap, it's likely nothing but the ramifications on your ability to do tasks that invole field could kill you or, one around you.

Anti here I am giving you advice about field and I put a "," in the wrong spot, but in my defense my lack of field was alcohol driven.

Anti re the Scintillating scotoma, mine are a shimering of distant objects as if viewed in an arid geography, the heat makes the objects shimmer or wave like a mirage, if you have ever experienced that, but no colours or flashes are involved and if I close my eyes relatively quickly for a few minutes it often goes away, but I have to avoid strong artificial or sunlight for a while after.

Christ Antiseptic, are you still alive son...please don't answer if your not!

strange you should mention it
this year i have had the very thing you describe
[less than ten tim,es]..and no 'migrane'..after

i of course like you hadnt given it much thought[or concern]
so read the link with intrest..[a link at the bottum fits in with my thinking on it]
http://imigraine.net/migraine/withaura.html

and while.it dosnt go as far as my thinking[ok speculating] on it
it sounds like medicine cant offer much of a solution on it either

they as a rule dont last long for myself
and im not about to go talk to some quack about it
and have them speculate on it

but encourage you to check it out
if its a worry or a danger

i cwertainly wouldnt risk driving on
if one began while driving..but mine seem tro occure when im resting[after doing strenious activity..or intensive problem solving]

but of course i have had so few
i havnt given it any serious concern
[for me its either a stress thing..[so worry wont make it better]
or the beginning of some phycic 'opening'

[to me the jagged arch..looks filled with colours
not in the center of my vision..but rather just outside my line of vision[and no 'blanke spot or other thing]

its just an arc..in a jaged line.
.much like a stress fracture in the fabric of time/spece]

[see why i refuse to explain it to some quack?]
who is likely to put me on lsd or some other chemical[lol]

i seem to recall some mention of it
in the many phycic litritures i have read
but the egsact phrasology escapes me..never the less its well mentioned in much paranormal litreture...[the key being for me 'aura']

but as thats not a thing i would seek to see
that's not a concept that fills me with hope

i know many allready think im nuts
without actually..'seeing dead people'..on top of it all

never the less i treat each occurance as an experiment
trying to discern..what the heck the phenomina is
i know it's 'all'..in my mind

and prefer to leave it there
but never the less will follow the topic with intrest
[but little concern..as i expect something..in these times
who knows perhaps us daring to speculate..might encourage others to expand or explore

and hopefully isolate a common cause
for what might become more common as we head into 2012

for now its a simple visual impression
im content to studdy...if/when..it visits my mind

Antiseptic.

Yep....I get them very seldom these days, however, I used to suffer them more in my twenties. You described exactly what I experience. I used to get a bit of a headache afterwards but nothing too intense.

Funny thing was, back in the eighties at one stage I found it was happening every night at around six o'clock....which, of course, I thought was weird. Then it occurred to me that I used to sit down to watch the news at six and the telly was next to a window through which I could discern powerful sunrays as the sun began to set. I changed my room around and solved that particular situation. But, yeah, those patterns are amazing - a little off-putting, perhaps, because one's vision is impaired. But as you say, the patterns spread out and move across until they disappear around the periphery...very strange, indeed.

Thanks for the replies folks. SOG, thanks for the concern mate, but I'm fine, It's a symptom, not a cause, so the thing is to work out what the cause is. The actual experience is not unpleasant, just a bit disconcerting. I've not had to pull over while driving yet, or anything like that, but you can be sure I shall do so if I need to.

It's interesting that I'm not the only one here to experience this. Apparently it's not at all uncommon, but I'd never heard of it. My only concern is that it's a recent development for me, so I hope it's not indicative of something else more serious.

The point about light is a good one. The one yesterday started when I got a flash of light in my eye from a car windscreen in the street outside, shortly after getting up.

OUG, I haven't found a pattern to these events as yet, having only experienced it about 3 or 4 times in total, although there may have been a couple more minor occurrences which I put down to "tired eyes".

If anyone else has had one of these events, perhaps they'd like to add their own experiences?

Momentary blurred vision with severe dizzy spells ? yep, know the feeling. It's stress. Went to the Doctor but in few words & no uncertain terms the Doc came to the conclusion it couldn't be stress because "you're only a worker, how could you have stress ?"
The second Doctor said "I can't give you stress leave because just about everyone here (QLD Health) has taken stress leave. If I give you stress leave too Brisbane would start asking questions".

I have been getting these for the past five years or so. It seems totally random and apart from the interference with vision there are no other effects. I was initially worried and asked my doctor about it but he seemed to not know what I was talking about and dismissed it as unimportant. I did some research on the net and found a few references to visual migraines but never found anything about scintilating scotoma. Thanks for that Anti. That page describes the effect I get perfectly.

I will have to start keeping a diary and see if I can figure out what causes it. I havent been able to connect it to anything so far. Like I said with me it seems totally random. Sometimes during the day sometimes at night. Sometimes three or four times a week but also months without it happening. Sometimes when Ive been just sitting around at home. Sometimes at work or riding my bike.

Does it happen in both eyes for you guys? If I close my eyes, either separately or together I can see it in both eyes the same.

Thanks for sharing this. It is good to know Im not the only one.

individual as usual confirms that medicine dosnt really know

but i have had a bit of a sleep on it
and recall 3 times in total..and ever since i applied left brain logic to it it has disappeard[ie deciding to study it]

it has been reported as the shakra's opening[but having read the wisdoms of those who claim this hasnt revealed any more basic intuitive knowledge[by the claimants]

another word that pops into my recall is kundalini
[that and the higher shakras opening]..although study of the further steps[as per the link]..show if it is an awakening of phycic vision[as opposed to masterial visioning]..it seems limited to the lower levels of spirit being..[going by the 'gray realm'[blob mentioned at the other link]

anyhow i would treat it as a curiosity worthy of study
certainly any drugs even perscribed dont seem to be any cure
i repeat after i decided to study the affect..it seems to have gone away.

if it is phycic vision awarness in development
it is important to repeat the wise words from hitchhikers guide to the universe...'dont panic'..as our mindset determines the 'level'..of our spiritual 'sight'

i also recall docter who...had that affect on a wall
in that case it was something about the universe disovlving..[or some other such titilating insanity]

anyhow keep an open mind
and certainly dont panic
and apply the reasoning/logic..dont get lost is any 'flash back'

i guess i should have taken a trip..when i was young
it seems i missed out on what seems a common experience of many people
[that alternate reality peopple claim to see on 'drugs']

anyhow for me the decision to study it made it go away
thus logic not drugs seems to have 'fixed' it

im still not sure
if thats good or bad..[its neither]
i will be glad to see 2013...as then at least
we will have gone past that excuse..as a part of our reasoning process

thanks for the memories

Dear Anti,

My advice is go to your GP immediately and get
a referral to a specialist. A family friend
was having the symptoms you describe and
they continued for a few years. Nobody took
him seriously. Doctors couldn't find anything
wrong. Then one day one GP referred him to a specialist
to get a head scan. It turned out he had a brain
tumour. He died last year.

It's better to have it checked out Anti. It could
be nothing - but best to be safe than sorry.

Take care.

cont'd ...

Anti, have you been to an eye-specialist and an
ear/throat/nose specialist. My husband saw a
documentary on TV a few months ago where such
symptoms were related to the nervous system
affecting the eyes.

Worth checking.

I have suffered from this type of migraine since my teens. I know, from experience, they follow a stress event. This may be something as simple as a bad cold or meeting a deadline at work. The migraines usually occur AFTER the event - when I have solved my problems or recovered from an illness. Most often I would start the weekend or holiday with a migraine.

I suffer from them less these days because I have learnt how to manage stress events.

For some people certain foods such as chocolate, alcohol or coffee may trigger a migraine.

Anti needs to look at his lifestyle as well as having a check up from his GP - something has started this affliction. It may not be a tumour, but best to check.

You may simply need to ease up on yourself (and others).

Cheers

While it may be prudent to have a medical check-up - just in case something has triggered the symptoms, many people like myself have had them off and on over the years sometimes more often and in my case now, extremely seldom, with no dire consequences.

It's an interesting phenomenon because, although the patterns are presented on the visual stage, it seems to emanate from beyond the sight mechanism. The patterns start in one spot, usually as a pin prick of bright light, or when eyes are open as a distortion of the visual field. In my case the light and pattern seems to agitate, then it gradually expands to take in more of the visual field in both eyes. If you shut one eye, its still there in the other - and if you shut both eyes, it's still there as well, except more vivid.

I have a similar experience as described by sonofgloin. I believe mine is caused by eye strain at the computer, low sugar and tiredness.

My optomalic specialist does not know what it is; but my eyes test excellent.

If your heart is Ok just have a sugar kick and go for a walk. Seek medical advise.

Thanks for your concern Lexi and Ammonite. I reckon it's something lifestyle-related. I've put on a bit of weight since work slowed down and probably drunk a lot more, so none of those things could be helping. Time for a bit more asceticism. I can't see that improving my temper though...

I'm surprised at how many of the regulars describe these symptoms. Have any of you discussed it with other people much? I'd never really heard anything about it before I started looking into my own experience.

Anti

I am 100% certain that had I described these symptoms to you prior to your experience with an aural migraine, you would've dismissed me as a whiner (aaah schadenfreude).

Mine start similarly to Poirot's with a tiny blur in the almost centre of my vision - in both eyes. Gradually it expands across my vision into a shimmering light - like a light show in my head but not nearly so pleasant. This is accompanied by pressure on one side of my head (in my case the RHS) this can differ between individuals. After the 'light show' has expanded beyond my visual field, a headache sets in with varying intensity. The visual effects last for about an hour. The headache may last a lot longer with additional symptoms of extreme exhaustion and sometimes nausea. Obviously it is dangerous to be driving when this occurs as you may not see clearly, but not be aware you have lost some of your vision until the aura becomes obvious.

Hence the need to assess your lifestyle.

Getting fresh air, walking and looking at your eating habits as well as alcohol intake all help, I would also recommend meditation as this is a terrific relaxing method. Good luck.

I guess I should add what is happening in a migraine sufferer's brain. It is like some of the neurons are misfiring - that you see something is because the 'brain-storm' is occurring in the visual areas of your brain. Migraines are similar to epilepsy. You might find that bright flashing lights such as strobe lighting can impact.

You are capable of researching this illness further, there is much to learn, some people have success with medication. I don't. Therefore, I don't drink, smoke and avoid vexatious people as much as possible. My health being of more importance than the egos of others.

Well described, Ammonite.

Yes a feeling of tiredness or maybe better described as being a little washed out. Sometimes a moderate headache in my case. Also a sensitivity to light in the hours after.

Thinking back to an episode in primary school which was probably my first experience. I remember being quite alarmed because my vision was distorted and I was required to read something out in class (as luck would have it) and my friend had to guide my eye across the page with finger on the lines of the book to help me. It didn't happen again until my early twenties when my daughter was young - and happened quite often at that stage of my life. Not so now.

Poirot

The first it happened to me I was seventeen - I think now, too many long nights studying for exams. I thought I had something wrong with my eyesight and was too frightened to go to a doctor. Until I landed in hospital with a grande mal seizure in my twenties, I did not know the affliction was a migraine. In hospital I had a CAT scan and ruled out any possible tumours - which is good to know.

Do you also find difficulty concentrating and doing basic abstract thinking - woolly-headedness?

I have encountered a complete lack of understanding in non-sufferers who simply do not get that a migraine is to a headache what a bone fracture is to a paper cut.

Hence my irritation at Anti.

Ammonite,

I don't get massive headaches after a visual disturbance - although I used to get a moderately intense version. Perhaps some extremely light nausea...but I know some people are totally wiped out for days after a migraine episode - seriously intense headaches and vomiting for days. I suppose then its a thing of degree.

Yes, I imagine woolly-headedness would be something I experience, mainly due probably to the whole disconcerting experience or maybe to the brain getting overactive in a certain area.

My last experience of a series of migraines was about five days after the birth of my son (he's nearly ten) when I got three in one day. Have had a couple since, but that's not bad going for ten years.

Anti
Your experience sounds very debilitating. I have only had one migraine in my life and that was after (and during) driving into the sun on a long trip. The pain was bad enough to cause vomiting. However, the visual was hard to describe because I think on reflection it was due to the intensity of light which is what I saw even when shutting my eyes after arriving home.

That was the only experience with a 'migraine' but it gave me an insight to what regular sufferers must endure.

There is an operation for severe cases which was described in an interview with Symantha Perkins some time ago. You are probably not at that stage but it might provide relevant information.

http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/webchats/263900/the-pain-barrier-with-symantha-perkins

Some good advice above about de-stressing. Have you tried meditation?
Best of luck with it and let us know how you are going.

Sounds like a stroke coming on to me.

Now I'm feeling deprived.

All I've got is heart attacks, tinnitus, polymyalgia rheumatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, & shot knees & hips.

My sympathetic son reckons it's because I'm so damn old, but what the hell would he know.

I really do think you lot are having much more fun, with your afflictions than I am. Not fair I say.

Lexi:>> My husband saw a documentary on TV a few months ago where such
symptoms were related to the nervous system affecting the eyes.<<

Lexi just as a side bar if I may, a mate of mine (Dr) was whinging to a few of us a while back that self diagnosis was driving him and his colleagues crazy, and as the computer literate generation age he sees more patients going to the net for a diagnosis.

He referred to second guessing and his need to explain why the patients self diagnosis is not valid in their instance, he went on to justify his view with a time management argument regarding time taken up in rebutting the information absorbed by his patients, some of it quite involved and correct he said, but not pertinent to them. According to him the net is the best thing to happen to those with hypochondria since bulk billing.

I could see his point, but he and many of his colleagues have incorrectly diagnosed in the past and will into the future, I personally think it is about taking away the sanctity of the medical profession but one’s body is the only one we each have. What is it they say about a little bit of knowledge

I reckon I could be a hypochondriac, but I'm too lazy.

I have many strange symptoms and look up what they could be, then I just think... Naaaaa. Anyway the queue at the doctors is always soo long. What do doctors know anyway I reckon I know more. I mean, they know text books and stuff, but I know me.

I reckon one day my leg will fall off...and I'll think... maybe it's leprosy.... Naaaaa. It'll be ok.

Maybe it's lupus! Well, that's what Cameron always said.

But then I looked up hypochondriac on google, and I'm wondering if I have all the symptoms of hypochondria. That's ironically ironic.

Then I found this...http://www.thehypochondriac.com/

As to visions, most of mine have been Ketamine induced, even MDMA at times but more when coming down and I think it's more I'm just really tired.

I get migraines if I eat hotdogs at the footy, not sure if it's the preservatives or the stadium lights. Probably the preservatives as it ends in a massive chunder. Stopped hot dogs about the same time I got bored with six tackles kick, not very scientific I know, but it's not a riddle that preoccupies me.

'Hence my irritation at Anti.'
Who are you kidding. It takes way less than that and it's a chronic condition anyway.

Migraine sufferers and vegetarians are just massive attention seekers. Those migraines get you out of a boring social function with sympathy. Unless used too often, then you'll be hated as much as most vegetarians.

Hey, has anyone had unexplained skin sensitivity (like a really bad sun-burned feeling) with absolutely no external signs. Some kind of neurapathy. It hurt for my clothes to even touch my skin.

Dear SOG,

It sounds like Anti's receiving some excellent
advice - and he can pick and choose what he
wants out of all these posts. Hopefully, he'll
take heed and do something about it.
Frankly, I'm concerned that he'll simply ignore
it. They say things happen for a reason. The
question is to find out why it's happening to
him now, and as he said - it's getting worse.
Not a good sign.

Houullie's got herpes.

Simplex.

Houellie,

You're just jealous because your head doesn't play a bright light show for free. Actually, I really think you'd enjoy it.

But really, if you'd ever experienced anything like that you wouldn't liken it to hypochondria. Most people would rather not experience it, and some of us seem to have shaken it off more or less. It is probably stress-related - or at least, stress creates the optimal conditions for it to be triggered. I was much more inclined to worry about my health when I was younger. As I grow older, I tend to get better at shrugging niggling issues away.

I get that when I get migraines. I have to carry codeine with me in case it happens. I lose the top two thirds of my vision - if I don't catch it early - and then it progresses on to the actual migraine. If it gets that far I can be out for a couple of days. But yes, I lose my vision too. It's a horrible feeling.

curiously i just had an other one
i was caught between watching the sbs doc on the frauds of the envirmental mob..and the abc program on mone'[the painter]

at arround 9.10 pm..i noted a slight blurry vision
and soom saw a minute light triangular colour fickering
[rather minute in size at the 12 oclock point..so much so as to only blur the point of focus on faces]

within arround 5 minutes..it had expanded to a larger [face size] arc
across a clock face..its arc would have been equal to the points between 10 oclock to 1 oclock..in the same jaged rippling sugestion of a jaged white flashing arc[noting the time was arround 20 past 9[pm]

at that time i noted it was growing larger
it soon grww in size to cover the tv..in affect
and was now arching between 7 oclock to 3 oclock mark

it soonm grew beyond my field of vision..and by 9.30 pm was gone completly

im sure its not a clasic migrane
as the i only pain i felt was a mild pain..on my right temple
that now may be a vague pain on my hairline[but only because im searching for any pain symptoms]

i took no medications
and the whole 'event' came and went in arround 20 minutes
during which i watched the painter thing on abc[by then i was fed up with the sbs greenie doco..and more focused on studying the 'topic'..[phenomina]

im nopt sure we are talking about migranes
[my mum used to get those for hours..and i felt only very mild pain
that wasnt any 'pain' at all..maybe a dull sensitivity..as i was searching to find any symptom]

anyhow
thats all
it wasnt a 'migrane'
more a visual phenomina

i did note that i rubbewd my eyes later
and saw the presure light flashes..one gets when rubbing the eyes
[so if it happens again..i will be judging if the eye balls presure changes the 'affectation' of my vision

make of it what you will
i find it no more than a curiosity
hardly worth raising..when so many got 'real' problems

Jesus…Sounds like smoko time in the nursing home!!

OUG,

What you describe is a migraine - exactly like the ones I have had in the past. I do think we are talking of degree here, in that these types are more mild than the more prolonged and intense episodes experienced by others.

Antiseptic, you should certainly get a firm diagnosis from a Doctor first, before putting symptoms of any kind down to stress or life-style changes.

Two close friends of mine suffer regularly from migraines, although one has found a reasonable 'cure' recently.

Strangely enough, she was only explaining to me today your exact symptoms of flashing lights/misty vision in only one eye when she woke up this morning! This didn't develop into a full-blown migraine though, like it would have only a year ago.

She was commenced on an antihypertensive (anti-blood pressure) medication called Noten, which has been found to have a side-effect of reducing the severity or even stopping migraines in some people.
It doesn't work for everyone, but I reckon it is worth a try.

Thanks again folks. It's apparent that this is a very common thing, but rarely discussed, it seems. I really hadn't the faintest idea these scotomas even happened. Really fascinating stuff.

I'll go and get things checked out but I'm not too worried about it, other than the fact that it's a new phenomenon for me. There's no family history of epilepsy or migraine as far as I'm aware. In fact, on the whole, I'm the healthiest bloke you'd ever want to know. In the past 20 years I'd have taken no more than perhaps 30 days of sick leave that was genuine and when I hurt myself I heal very fast. I don't even have a medicare card these days, because I haven't bothered to renew it since it expired about 4 years ago.

Suze, I am a little concerned about BP, but mine has always been pretty constant at around 110-120/70, so it's not too bad. I have a friend who's a nurse so I might get her to do a reading quick smart. I've also decided to stop using Maggi's Asian liquid seasoning which I've been using quite a bit for all sorts of cooking, since it contains a heap of MSG and glutamate is known as a common trigger for migraine. It can't hurt as a first approximation. Does anybody have any specific foods they know to trigger an attack?

I'm just pleased that this seems to be merely a visual thing so far. I'd hate to experience something like Ammonite and StG have described.

Anti

Blood pressure may be a factor, however I have rarely suffered from high blood pressure except from natural causes like running, riding a bicycle, kick boxing - normal levels for normal exertion. Although I have actually had a migraine develop while out jogging - but then I looked at my circumstances and was having a great deal of stress at work.

My doctors prescribed anti-hypertension drugs to be taken as a preventative. However, I so rarely have migraines now, that I don't bother taking the pills. One thing you should know is that drugs don't work once the migraine has really set in. If you want to take any medication take it at the first hint when you are aware that your vision isn't quite right. Apparently the digestive system goes into a kind of lock down.

Migraines are often genetic, you may well have had a family member who suffered in silence. I have often just not said anything - people who don't get them simply do not understand - as you have observed here. Also, I know when attempting to describe the aural effect people think its sounds entertaining, when as you know, it is anything but. Makes no difference whether your eyes are open or not, in fact the intensity is more obvious when one's eyes are closed.

The danger, as I said, is if you develop one while driving. All I can say is I have been very lucky. If you know you are driving for a long time, best to pull over for an hour till the aura stops. However, your reflexes will not be as good.

Best to get a check up - particularly as you have started getting them later in life, there appears to be no genetic factor, nor any recent changes to your lifestyle? You have had to deal with a lot of stress in the past, but didn't have migraines then. Carrying anger with you is bad, hence suggestion to practice meditation.

Cont'd

Cont'd

For myself, they (migraines) are a part of being me, like some people are genetically disposed to other problems. I manage them. My last partner could actually tell when I am having a migraine now, because, he'd notice my eyes looking glassy. This was great because I hate telling anyone.

It is important to be taken seriously with conditions like this. If your partner suffered from migraines you wouldn't want her boss forcing her to drive, or for her to take the kids to school while in the midst of one. A friend who suffered from migraines was ordered into work by his boss - a drive of 40 K. Lucky for the boss, he arrived safely, but then had to stay in bed for 3 days after to recover.

PS

Yes you irritate me for your dogmatic stance and insults on issues, but I guess I must care or I wouldn't have bothered writing. I don't write here as much as I used to.

So don't waste the effort I and others have made and get a bloody check-up.

I wouldn't call myself an angry person, Ammonite. I like a good argument though...

Thanks for the advice and the concern. I'll get onto it.

Dear Anti,

We all care, you silly old coot.
And I mean that in the nicest way.

Diet does play an important part in your
well-being. I used to drink heaps of
diet-coke until one night - I ended up in
the emergency department of the Austin
Hospital, here in Melbourne
with severe heart palpitations and blood
pressure through the roof. They told me to
give up diet-coke alltogether as well as
coffee and they put me onto stronger
medication. As for MSG - I'm not allowed
to have it - and I react to foods that have it.
So be careful what you eat and drink.

Very relieved though that you're having things
checked out.

I may not have explained myself very well in my previous post, but the friend who was commenced on Noten did NOT have high blood pressure!
She was put on the Noten purely as a migraine preventative after all else failed. It worked for her.

I have also been talking to another friend today, whose migraines were caused by hormone fluctuations. She has been commenced on a common antidepressant called Efexor (and NO, she isn't badly depressed), and since then she has had far fewer migraines or visual disturbances. When she does get a migraine, it is much less severe too.

Antiseptic, it doesn't matter if no-one else in the family ever had visual disturbances before as far as you know.
(Maybe 'Great Uncle Payne' died at a young age from an unknown visual problem!)
Go and get your medicare card renewed, and speak to the GP about a full checkup, including prostate tests, like all bright men
should do :)
You do want to remain healthy for your kids don't you?

Antiseptic:

…Judging by the “typo’s” on another post of yours today, maybe it’s an optometrist you need… Sorry, when the weather clears I’ll be back on the boat and out of here!... I think it’s called “cabin fever”.

Gee Dan, now you've got me worried you might have the wrong boat.

I used to meet heaps of people in big heavy solid safe cruising boats. They were so solid, [& slow] they could only sail out of sight in a gale, on a dark night. They were also so uncomfortable & hard to sail in heavy conditions, that no one ever did it.

They all waited for strong winds to drop, then motored every where. At least that charged their batteries, so it did not matter that their solar & wind generating gear didn't work, which was usual.

Having owned one of those I went off in the fastest thing I could find, on the grounds that when ever I went out to sea, a gale immediately developed, & bashed 5 kinds of stuff out of me & my boat.

With a fast boat you aren't out there in it so long.

Good luck, & have fun.