I've not flown offshore, or IFR as P1, but I have been flying about in cloud a bit in the last few weeks on the IR course, It's all pretty new to me so just wondering when your offshore 50-100nm from the nearest platform or land, auto-pilot on, does it really make a difference whether your in cloud or not (outside icing conditions)? As far as track guidance goes even in VMC surely your flying proper IFR for track guidance (perhaps GPS/RNAV in practice) on IFR clearances etc? Not too dissimilar from a guy at 29,000' in VMC? and would the departures and approaches be mostly flown as IFR in VMC or visually?