[Suggestion] Smaller distances between islands.

[TeamsterSource]

So far after 7 playthroughs as Wilson, 5 out of the 7 deaths were caused by darkness at sea.

I got annoyed after my last death because even with a crockpot, firepit, and alchemy station saved for a base, I died in the middle of the sea because I couldnt find any land before night, even though I set sail as soon as morning rolled around.

 

Another problem is that finding necessary items like gold is annoyingly difficult since I have to keep on sailing for days until I find an island with gold. (assuming I don't die in the middle of the sea when darkness roles out)

[julz1981]

finding islands is very easy and they are never far!

You have to keep to the shalow, go to the edge of shalow and follow, when it stops making a circle around your island it means there's an island in that direction at less than 30 seconds away.

[LeadenStik]

You can hold a torch, but it only provides light while keeping still on a boat.

[Mday]

Raft is slightly faster than log raft. Switch to row boat and get boat lantern/thatch sail as soon as you have access to science. That boat lantern can last many nights.

 

If you don't have a boat and boat lantern/sail it is very difficult to sail at night as the number of twigs is kinda limited early game. 

 

There is actually a pattern with the distribution of islands. Most of the time I will just ride the wave and go to where-ever it takes me to. However if you sail along the colored line, you should be able to find some islands. This is how I figure where to go when I find myself seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Also, the outer ring of island tends to spread further from each other. So if you are near the edge of the world looking to discover more islands be ready to stay at sea for a bit longer than otherwise.