Getting to patrol area

[Drach]

How do you all get to your search area? I mean, in real life it could take days for a sub to get to their area. In the game I don't want to watch my screen for an hour while my sub does nothing but sail.

So leaving port, I use time compression to leave port, move quite fast, traveling at full speed, on the surface. At what point should I start slowing down, recharging batteries, stay submerged during the day etc.?

Related question, how long do you play at one time? Given some time patrolling, then closing on a contact, attacking, counter attack etc., is an hour enough time? Or two?

I know I can spend as much time as I want, but need some idea of minimum times